Crowley to build four more ATBs by 2010.

• Position: TRANSPORTATION

Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Vessel Management Services subsidiary has signed a contract with VT Halter Marine Inc. to build four more articulated tug-barge (ATB), 185,000-barrel tank vessels. The new vessels will have an estimated delivered cost of approximately $236 million, including owner-furnished equipment. The vessels will be delivered in six-month intervals between the first half of 2009 and the end of 2010.

The four new ATBs (Pride/650-7, Achievement/650-8, Innovation/650-9 and Vision/650-10) will be operated by Crowley's petroleum services segment as they are completed. These four new vessels will bring Crowley's total ATB fleet to 14, consisting of four 155,000-barrel and 10 185,000-barrel ATBs. Four of Crowley's 155,000-barrel vessels, the Sea Reliance/550-1, Sound Reliance/550-2, Ocean Reliance/550-3 and Coastal Reliance/550-4 have...