New U.S.-Flagged Articulated Tug-Barge Bert Reinauer Makes Inaugural Call to Port Canaveral

By Steve Linden, Port Canaveral Director of Communications and Public Affairs // August 24, 2018

discharged a cargo of fuel to Seaport Canaveral’s storage facility

Port Canaveral added another new vessel call when the largest articulated tug-barge (ATB) built in the Northeastern United States made its inaugural call to the Port. Staten Island, N.Y.-based Reinauer Transportation’s brand-new vessel, the tug Bert Reinauer and the barge RTC 165, berthed recently at North Cargo Pier 2 on its second voyage, discharging a cargo of fuel to Seaport Canaveral’s storage facility. (Canaveral Port Authority image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Port Canaveral added another new vessel call when the largest articulated tug-barge (ATB) built in the Northeastern United States made its inaugural call to the Port.

Staten Island, N.Y.-based Reinauer Transportation’s brand-new vessel, the tug Bert Reinauer and the barge RTC 165, berthed recently at North Cargo Pier 2 on its second voyage, discharging a cargo of fuel to Seaport Canaveral’s storage facility.

In Port tradition, Port officials presented Bert Reinauer Capt. Russell Armstrong with a plaque marking the vessel’s first visit.

“The arrival of the Bert Reinauer to Port Canaveral is another example of the Port’s key role in supporting economic growth in Central Florida,” said Port CEO Captain John Murray.

“Through improvements to berth infrastructure and our channel and turning basin, we have enhanced our ability to accommodate increased cargo volumes and more diverse commerce.”

Built as an international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea)-rated unit by Senesco Marine LLC of North Kingstown, R.I., the Bert Reinauer ATLANTIC II-class tug measures 124 feet by 40 feet and is “married” with the 515-foot-by-74-foot-by-41-foot double-hulled barge, which has a capacity of 155,000 bbl.

RTC 165 is a grade “A” clean service barge with four independent, segregated cargo systems that can load or discharge up to four products at the same time.

After leaving Port Canaveral, the tug-barge headed to Texas before returning to New York.