Crowley Completes Appomattox Platform Tow-Out in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico

Photo: Crowley Maritime Corp.

Crowley Maritime Corp. has successfully delivered Shell’s Appomattox semi-submersible Floating Production System (FPS) to the open waters of the U.S. Gulf from Kiewit Offshore Services’ construction facility in Ingleside, Texas.

Making the tow-out possible were Crowley’s Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun tugboats, which worked together on behalf of customer Heerema, alongside other third-party assets to deliver Appomattox.

During the operation, Crowley’s ocean class tugs safely towed the FPS through the Aransas Channel, then disconnected and provided escort services to the deep-water installation site. Once there, the tugs reconnected to provide positioning support so Heerema could attach the Appomattox FPS to its mooring spread.

“We are proud to have assisted Heerema with another safe and productive tow-out,” said Crowley’s Johan Sperling, vice president. “Our Ocean Class tugs and experienced team continue to demonstrate the company’s ability to provide offshore and heavy lift marine project support for a variety of energy customers. Few others have the experience and state-of-the-art marine assets that Crowley does. Together, they are a powerful and effective combination.”

Crowley’s Ocean Class tugs are modern ocean towing twin-screw vessels with controllable pitch propellers (CPP) in nozzles, high-lift rudders, and more than 147 metric-ton bollard pull.

The first two ocean class vessels, Ocean Wave and Ocean Wind, are classed as Dynamic Positioning 1 (DP1) tugboats and are twin-screw tugs with an overall length of 146 feet, beam of 46 feet, hull depth of 25 feet and design draft of 21 feet. The second two tugs of the class, Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun, are classed as DP2 and are 10 feet longer.

All four vessels are capable of rig moves, platform and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit tows, emergency response, salvage support and firefighting.

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