By Mark Edward Nero
Coupeville, Washington-based vessel broker Marcon International is reporting the sale of the 205-foot by 90-foot by 15-foot-deep former ice-strengthened, icebreaker/cargo barge Arctic Endeavor from Crowley Marine Services of Seattle to Alaska-based mining company Tagiuk LLC.
The 3,029-mtdw barge was built in 1982 by Gunderson Bros. of Portland, Oregon to support resupply sailings to ports in the Arctic while being pushed by two 2,100-HP “Point-Class” tugs. The barge was unique in having a wide spoon-shaped bow, tapering aft from 90 feet at its widest point at frame 25, a tapered hull under the waterline and a reinforced ice step.
The Arctic Endeavor was converted in 1999 by Duwamish Shipyard to an ABS +A1, ice classed, double-hull oil response barge for use in the Beaufort Sea, northeast of Deadhorse, Alaska.
The barge was laid up in Puget Sound at the time of the sale.
New owners have renamed the barge Tagiuk Provider, and are promptly returning her to Alaska from whence she came, according to Marcon.
Marcon says it has brokered more than 100 sales and purchase on behalf of Crowley over the last 30 years, since the 1986 sale of their 132-foot by 32-foot by 12-foot supply boat Gulf Mariner, which had previously been employed in Cook Inlet, Alaska servicing offshore drilling platforms.
Marcon says it has concluded a total of 16 sales and charters in 2016, including three ocean deck barges. Three 5,000-HP+ twin screw and ASD tugs continue to be fixed on previously arranged long-term charters in the US and Latin America.
Several additional sales are pending, according to the company.
