VT Halter Marine to build second tug barge

VT Halter Marine to build second Bouchard tug barge in Pascagoula

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) -- VT Halter Marine has gotten a contract to build a second articulated tug barge for Bouchard Transportation Co.

In February, VT Halter announced its contract for the first barge.

Halter Marine CEO Bill Skinner says in a news release that Bouchard Transportation contract will allow the company to maintain a steady workforce well into the future.

The barge has a 250,000-barrel capacity and will be used to transport liquid petroleum.

Construction on the first barge will begin in April at VT Halter's Pascagoula facility, with delivery scheduled for mid-2015. The barge will enter into Bouchard's fleet service in New York.

Construction of the second bare will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with delivery scheduled in February 2016.

VT Halter also has shipyards in Moss Point and Escatawpa.