Photo by: Randall Farhy

Built in 2017, by the Fincantieri Marine Group of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (hull #782) as the Paul McLernan for the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas.

Named for Paul McLernan, a dispatcher for the Kirby Corporation. Who had begun his career as a tankerman with the Eklof Marine Corporation in Staten Island, New York. Before moving into scheduling, and dispatch for Eklof Marine. And continued with the company when it became the K-Sea Transportation Partnership of Staten Island, New York.

McLernan had been in the process of relocating to Houston, Texas to continue woking in scheduling and dispatch for Kirby, when he was diagnosed with cancer. Mr. McLernan passed away in 2013.

Powered by two, Tier III compliant, twelve cylinder, L12-710G7C-T3 diesel engines. With Reintjes GMBH WAF 3455 HL/HR reduction gears, at a ratio of 4.957:1. Turning two, stainless steel, fixed pitch, Hung Shen, propellers. She is a twin screw tug, rated at 6,000 horsepower.

Her electrical service is provided by two, 199kW, Marathon Electric, 431PSL6258 generator sets. With a third, auxillary, 199kW, Marathon Electric, 431PSL6258 generator set. The tug's capacities are 136,766 gallons of fuel, 4,076 gallons of lube oil, 56,881 gallons of ballast, and 10,607 gallons of water.

Outfitted with an INTERcon coupler system. She is "married" with a 521(ft), 155,000(bbl) barge. The Kirby 155-02. That was constructed simultaneously by the Fincantieri Marine Group of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (hull #781) for the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas.
(Chris Scarborough, Captain Steve Bernhard, Captain Peter M. Codd)