Two Vessels Christened at Bay Shipbuilding

A crowd gathered for the christening of two new vessels at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay on May 20. Photo by Len Villano.

With high praise for the business relationships that made it happen and the workers who built them, two new vessels were christened at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay on May 20. Both vessels were built for Moran Towing Co., but will be leased to CF Industries, a major fertilizer company.

The Barbara Carol Ann Moran is a 121-foot 5,300 horsepower, steel hull tugboat. It was named for Barbara (Bobbie) Carol Ann Stiles, wife of Peter Minwegen, Jr. of CF Industries.

Barbara (Bobbie) Carol Ann Stiles christens the “Barbara Carol Ann Moran” at a ceremony May 20 in Sturgeon Bay. Photo by Len Villano.

“We’re really proud to be able to use the name Barbara Carol Ann on our new tug,” said Ted Tregurtha, president of Moran, at the christening ceremony.

The Louisiana, a 110,00-barrel barge, is the third in a series of barges Bay Shipbuilding has created for Moran.

Tregurtha spoke of the great relationship that has been developed with Bay Shipbuilding.

“The quality of the workmanship speaks for itself,” he said, adding that the company has built a total of seven new barges and two new tugs for Moran in the past 13 years. “We certainly know where we will go when the opportunity to build a new asset arises,” Tregurtha said. “We thank the men and women of Bay Shipbuilding for building us these fantastic vessels.”

Todd Thayse, vice president and general manager of Bay Shipbuilding, thanked Moran for having the confidence in the Sturgeon Bay shipbuilder.

“Thank you for that confidence. We will never destroy that or waver from it,” he said, adding that building boats for Moran has become a career for many workers at the shipyard.

“I would stand alongside this workforce anywhere in the United States in terms of quality and productivity. You guys do a helluva job and I want to thank you for that,” Thayse said.

Francesco Valente, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group

Francesco Valente, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, the U.S. division of the Italian enterprise Fincantieri, the largest shipbuilder in the western world, said the delivery of these two vessels “testifies to our commitment to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Valente described the Barbara Carol Ann Moran as “deceptively small in appearance, but it is powerful and tough and the engine behind many future business achievements for its owners and customers.”

Valente also referred to the company’s recent acquisition of the former Palmer Johnson property and how it increases the shipyard’s footprint and “testifies to our commitment to this community and our belief in the opportunities the shipbuilding business continues to offer in North America.

“All this would not be possible without the skills and unwavering commitment of our workforce,” he said. “Delivering on time and budget cannot be taken for granted in a business as complex as shipbuilding. When this happens on a regular basis, it is really a remarkable achievement. Thank you. I am honored to be a part of this team. Congratulations.”