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Foss Maritime christened the first of three Arctic Class tugs and it’s ready for its first job, an oil industry tow from South Korea to the Alaskan Arctic, according to a company statement.
Built at the Foss Rainier, Oregon Shipyard, the Michele Foss was named at Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma by the vessel’s namesake, Michele Seaver, one of three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk, parent company of Foss Maritime.
The Michele Foss is ice class D0, according to the company. This means the hulls are designed specifically for polar waters and are reinforced to maneuver in ice. The vessel complies with the requirements in the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Vessels Intended to Operate in Polar Waters, including ABS A1 standards, SOLAS and Green Passport.
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The tug has a bollard pull of 221,000 pounds. It includes a Caterpillar C280-8 main engine, which complies with federal environmental standards; a Nautican propulsion system; and Reintjes reduction gears, the statement said.
Foss notes that the vessel incorporates several environmentally focused designs and structural and technological upgrades, including the elimination of ballast tanks, so there is no chance of transporting invasive species. It features holding tanks for black and gray water to permit operations in no-discharge zones (such as parts of Alaska and California). It is also equipped with hydraulic oil systems compatible with biodegradable oil, energy efficient LED lighting and high-energy absorption Schuyler fendering.
Foss says the tug has been designed to withstand the rigors of Arctic operations and is suited to work across the globe in the oil and gas industry.
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