Shallow Articulated Draft Tug and Barge (ATB) Serves Remote Communities

Coastwise Corporation provided design, engineering, and construction support for a new shallow draft articulated tug and barge (ATB) set. The unique set of vessels, owned by Brice Marine of Fairbanks, Alaska, is designed to serve remote rural Alaskan communities and construction sites with shallow rivers or bays and unimproved beaches.

The 70-foot steel shallow draft tug, Alulaq, is an uninspected vessel designed to meet the proposed USCG subchapter M regulations. The tug design includes a Beacon Finland Ltd 11.75” pneumatic pin coupling system which connects with the barge. The Alulaq has three screws with a total of 1,500 horsepower, and a true light operating draft of 3’-9”.

The 180-foot steel barge, Drift River, is a USCG certified subchapter I cargo barge with a stern notch and a Beacon Finland socket plate to fit the Alulaq’s pin coupling system. The barge is capable of carrying approximately 1,000 long tons of cargo, which can include up to 28,000 gallons of fuel oil for use by the tug during long voyages. The Drift River includes a bow ramp for roll on/roll off equipment loading at unimproved beaches.

Brice Marine contacted Coastwise for an all new tug and barge design when no existing ATB design was found with the desired shallow draft.