A rise in demand for waterborne transportation of petroleum products coupled with a shortfall in tank vessel capacity has created a healthy demand for large - oceangoing tank barges.The shortfall in capacity is due to pressures from a couple of directions.
First - a rise in demand for petroleum products.
Second - the phasing-out of single-hull tank barges mandated by the Oil Pollution Act (OPA).
By the close of 2014 all single-hull tank barges will be phased out from the U.S. fleet.
Construction of doubled skinned barges has been brisk in Sturgeon Bay.
Here a tug is under construction that will push this barge. Nose first – right in the notch of the barge's stern you see above.
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I believe on the international seas there is an excess of tanker capacity because the 2008 oil spike drove orders for new tankers that are now coming online. Stocks like NAT have been flat to trending down. However, the US-only market that you describe is an entirely different animal.
ReplyDeleteIf WI gets that Navy contract for the littoral ships, shipbuilding will be strong here for years to come. That area needs something going for it besides overpriced boutiques and vacation condos.
Everyone is hopeful that Marinette Marine/Lockheed win the contract.
ReplyDeleteThis is the largest number of ships the Navy has planned to order for quite some time.