Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Towing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, celebrated the signing of a construction contract to build another of its HandySize Class, 3,400 HP twin-screw tugboat for harbor towing operations in Puerto Quetzal; a growing principal commercial cargo, container, and cruise port located on the Pacific coast of Guatemala in Central America. The buyer, Regimen de Pensiones y Jubilaciones del Personal de la Empresa Portuaria, is a Pension Benefits Plan for Port employees and retirees who operate a commercial tugboat service in the port under a Port Authority franchise for the purpose of ensuring future retirement benefits.

The HandySize class tug to be built for Regimen de Pensiones y Jubilaciones del Personal de la Empresa Portuaria, Puerto Quetzal

The HandySize Class tug was designed by Jensen Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, Seattle, Washington. The new tug will be built by Great Lakes Shipyard with delivery next year. It is specifically designed for harbor work and coastal towing. It is 74-feet long with a beam of 30 feet, and a design draft of 11.5 feet. It is to be built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards and its Cummins QSK-50 main diesel propulsion engines, each rated at 1700 BHP@ 1600 rpm meet US EPA Tier III emission regulations delivering superior fuel economy, durability, and reliability.

Evidencing the significance of the sale and trade between both countries, the Ceremony and reception was held in the US Embassy, Guatemala City, and hosted by the Embassy’s Senior Trade Specialist, Antonio Prieto of the International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce. Prieto was instrumental in facilitating the sale.

Nicole DeSilvis, the Embassy’s Senior Commercial Officer in her remarks, on behalf of the US Government and US Ambassador Todd Robinson, welcomed the Pension Plan’s officers represented by Eduardo De Jesus Lemus, the Regimen’s Presidente Junta Administradora who signed the Contract, and Juan Rodolfo Archila, the Regimen’s Administrador General and the Board of Directors acknowledging their “work ethic” and the “clear and transparent manner” of the negotiations and the contract process. She pledged to continue to collaborate and assist in the Pension Plan’s new endeavours.

At the Ceremony, Carlos Antonio Lainfiesta, Chairman of the Board of Puerto Quetzal was presented with a plaque from the Regimen in recognition of his efforts in support of the Regimen’s acquisition of the new tugboat.

The Great Lakes Towing Company’s Chairman, Ronald C. Rasmus, and Gregg A. Thauvette, Vice President, Operations and Marketing, represented Great Lakes Shipyard. Rasmus signed the Contract on behalf of the Shipyard.