ATB REVIEW“By using the same Intercon system on the various size ATBs in our f eet; we have the f exibility to change tugs in the event of unplanned shipyard maintenance or other issues that may arise. However, we dry dock the ATBs together (both the tugs and barges) for planned/routine maintenance.” – Bouchard Transportation Co. President and CEO, Morton S. Bouchard IIIATB Coupler Systems in Use (Feb. 2017)OEM / Type NumberIntercon 100JAK 37Bludworth 23Articouple 9Artubar 4Unknown 2Major ATB Operators (source MARAD)U.S. Flag Operator Number of ATB’sBouchard 21Crowley 12K-Sea 11Kirby 22Moran 10OSG 10Penn Maritime 12Reinauer 20All Others 57industry-wide acceptance of a concept, then Bouchard B. No. 230 & B. No. 240. I returned to New York and Transportation was also one of the ? rst ? rms to fully em- met with my father, Morton S. Bouchard Jr., who was up-brace the concept. That sort of early adoption is anything set we did not pursue this system for the B. No. 230 & but common on the domestic waterfront. At the same B. No. 240. We then agreed that moving forward all new time, it has long been a hallmark of the Bouchard brand. Bouchard barges would be ATBs equipped with Intercon.”In the early 1990’s, Bouchard was the ? rst company to In 1997, ATB unit Danielle M. Bouchard & B. No. 245 build double hulls. But, Morton Bouchard III did not yet was built, and Bouchard was yet again, the ? rst in the 1990’s know of the Intercon Coupler System. While attending to introduce the Intercon system. In fact, the Danielle M. the American Petroleum Institute Conference in Chicago, Bouchard was Bouchard’s ? rst 10,000hp ATB tug and the a series of meetings piqued his interest. Referencing that B. No. 245 was Bouchard’s ? rst 250,000 barrel barge. This API conference, Bouchard told MarineNews, “I learned unit was the ? rst of its kind ever built in the industry. It about the Intercon system and was interested in under- also began a love affair with the ATB that continues to this standing why Bouchard did not install this system on the day. In a fragmented and wide ranging market, Bouchard 45 www.marinelink.com MN