Page 31 - Port of Baltimore Magazine Sept/Oct 2012
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September/October 2012
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The Port of Baltimore
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sea-trial the boat, and then outfit it and make the
delivery voyage to Baltimore.
“
It is something that we will always remember,”
said Southworth, who has worked in the harbor for
15
years after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.
The engine room itself is a clean, well-lit space
where engineer Eric Hardison keeps things running
without getting covered in grime. The
Mark Moran’s
massive 16-cylinder MTU engines are mounted on
vibration-reducing pads. “This engine room is so
spacious,” said Hardison, “It is so much easier to
get to everything.”
The
Mark Moran’s
engines meet the EPA Tier II
standard for lowering emissions, a major priority for
Moran Towing in all of its operations. In Baltimore, the
company keeps emissions down by not running the
tugs’ engines while they are at the pier, instead using
shore power to keep the lights on. When running, the
Moran fleet burns ultra-low sulphur diesel.
“
We take our corporate initiatives with respect
to the environment very seriously,” said Swensen.
The MTUs deliver power to the Schottel Z-drives
that made it possible for the
Mark Moran
to undock
the
Firmament Ace
without the assistance of
another tug. A traditional tugboat has long shafts
that come from the engine and turn
propellers at the stern that drive
the boat. The
Mark Moran
has
twin drives that are mounted
under the boat, each turning
independently 360 degrees. In
other words, the power coming
from the engines can be applied
in any direction, forward, back-
ward or sideways.
The
Mark Moran
is classified
by the American Bureau of Shipping
as not just a towing vessel, but as an
“
escort” vessel capable of providing enough
power to assist a ship that is out of control. The
tug can make 14 knots and turn at full speed in its
own length.
“
The power of this boat is well-matched to the
larger and larger ships that will be calling Baltimore,”
said Swensen.
As the Port of Baltimore prepares to receive the
newest class of ships designed for the expanded
Panama Canal, Moran’s Swensen says that the
Mark
Moran
will be standing by. “We are doing our part
to keep the Port competitive,” he said.
AT-A-
GLANCE
Moran Towing Corporation began
more than 150 years ago in New York
Harbor, when Michael Moran purchased
a half interest in the tugboat Ida Miller for
$2,700. Today the company is headquartered
in New Canaan, Conn., and based in 16 ports,
where the company operates 95 tugs and
30
barges. Moran provides ship docking,
barge transportation and LNG services
along the East and Gulf Coasts
and in the Great Lakes.
REACH TOP
MARITIME INDUSTRY
DECISION-MAKERS
Upcoming Issue
November/December
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Contact Steve Lassiter at
443.909.7828
or
MORAN’S
More
Powerful
TUG
ComplementsDeeperBerth,NewCranes
Double-Stack Rail
Coming toBaltimore
