1997

The DANIELLE M. BOUCHARD and her barge, B-240. were built by Halter Marine Group and Halter Moss Point Marine.

For this pair of vessels, Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering provided Halter with specialized AT/B design and engineering for both the coupler installation on the tug, and the stern structural design and notch design for the barge. This included interpretation and review of model test results as well as determination of loading to be applied in the structural analysis to follow. On the tugs, OT&BE designed the “load box” structure surrounding the couplers, and also modified the Halter design structurally to accept the load box. OT&BE provided Halter with anticipated loading from the connection at sea, and arranged for and participated in an FEA analysis for the tug structure as well. On the barge, OT&BE designed the structure of the stern area around the connection, the skegs supporting the connection, and the notch shape to suit the connection.

To date, these vessels have all operated successfully, with no structural failures of any kind related to the coupler installation. For other Bouchard newbuild and refit tugs utilizing the INTERCON system, OT&BE’s loadbox and barge stern skeg designs were used as the basis for Halter’s work on these vessels as well.