Blount building small bunker tanker for New York

Blount Boats, Warren, R.I., has started construction on the Chandra B, a steel 79'×23' double-hull, fuel-bunkering tanker for American Petroleum & Transport, Lake Grove, N.Y. The vessel was designed by Farrell & Norton Naval Architects, Newcastle, Maine, and Fairhaven, Mass.

The Chandra B will operate out of New York Harbor servicing dinner cruise boats, construction barges and other small bunkering jobs, according to American Petroleum’s Steve Bragoli.

Prior to signing the contract to build the Chandra B, American Petroleum had been operating a small single-hull tanker, the Capt. Log.

“If you are supplying fuel or carrying an oil cargo, you have to have a double bottom and a double skin on your tanks at the beginning of the year,” said Tom Farrell of Farrell & Norton.

The Chandra B, with a tankage capacity of 56,450 gals., will replace the Capt. Log, a 57'×15' fuel-bunkering tanker with a 19,000-gal. capacity. American Petroleum also had to get rid of the single-hulled 6,000-gal. Patrick Sky and the 4,000-gal. Scotty Sky. They were replaced with 10,000-bbl., double-hulled, unmanned barges. Now the Chandra B will be “the only self-propelled tanker left,” said Bragoli.

The Capt. Log had a single engine for power, but the Chandra B will have a pair of Tier 3 Cummins QSL9, six-cylinder diesels. Each one is rated at 330 hp at 1,800 rpm. ZF W325 marine hydraulic gears with 4.91:1 reduction ratios will be bolted to the QSL9s. With the two engines, “she’ll be more versatile than the Captain Log,” said Bragoli.

The Chandra B will also have a 50-hp Wesmar hydraulic bowthruster.

Bragoli said the boat would be operated with a two-man crew. “We are keeping it under 100 tons,” he added. The small tanker will be built to USCG Subchapter D specifications.

The Chandra B is set for an August delivery. — Michael Crowley