Bisso Towboat Co., Inc., Luling, La., has taken delivery of its newest ship-assist tug, the 6,008 BHP ASD tractor tug Andrew S.

The Andrew S. is the first Tier 4 ASD tractor tug built for use on the Mississippi River and will be the most powerful ASD tractor tug in the Mississippi River ship-assist trade.

The vessel is the fourth new ASD tug built for Bisso in the past five years by the Main Iron Works shipyard in Houma, La.

The 100’ x 38’ x 13.5’ Andrew S. is powered by two Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4F main engines, generating 3,004 BHP each at 1,800 RPM, and driving two Rolls-Royce US255 FP Z-Drives. The Z-Drives feature 98.4” diameter x 94.3” pitch four-blade stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles. Estimated Bollard Pull is 84 tons.

Electrical service is provided by two 99 kW Marathon generators powered by two John Deere 4045AFM85 engines. The tug is equipped with a JonRie Series 240 escort winch featuring 500’ of 3” diameter Saturn 12 line with 749,000# of breaking strength.

Other features include USCG-approved engine room monitoring and fire/smoke alarm systems, fixed CO2 fire extinguishing system, Simrad navigation/electronics, soundproof insulation throughout engine room/crew quarters, stainless steel bitts and bow staple and four bunk rooms with seven berths.

Tankage includes capacities for 30,162 gallons diesel, 11,000 gallons potable water, 1825 gallons each of lube and hydraulic oil and 3,000 gallons of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

The Andrew S. will have a crew complement of four and carries an ABS International Loadline in addition to being built to Subchapter M certification and receiving a USCG COI.