APOLLO and TAURUS pusher tugs

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The United States Postal Service will dedicate a series of Forever Stamps entitled “Earthscapes,” in 2012 of which one features an aerial view of Kirby Corporation’s APOLLO and Enterprise Marine Services LLC’s TAURUS commercial tow boats positioning themselves against liquid tank barges in the Old River Barge Fleeting area near the Houston Ship Channel in Texas.

A pair of towboats “wrangle” commercial barges in the Old River barge fleeting area near the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. The channel allows access from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of Houston, a major industrial center. The photograph of the APOLLO (top) and TAURUS (bottom) formerly named MARIE CENAC) was taken by Jim Wark of Pueblo, CO.

In this image, the barges — cast in shades of red, green, and orange — pop against the deep blue background

The APOLLO was built in 1969 under yard No 219 by Main Iron Works Incorporated, Houma, Louisiana for the Sabine Transportation Company of Port Arthur, Texas.
Launched as the APOLLO .
Tonnage 140 grt, 95 nrt, dim. 21.7 x 7.4 x 3.11m.
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1996 Acquired to the Guidry Brothers Towing Company, Galliano, Louisiana, renamed in RACHEL.
1993 Acquired again by the Sabine Transportation Company of Port Arthur, Texas and renamed APOLLO.
1998 Acquired by the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas, not renamed.
2000 She was rebuilt by the Bludworth Bond Shipyard of Houston, Texas, she is now powered by 2 Cummins KTA19-M3 diesel engines, 1,200 hp, twin screws.
2020 In service, same name and owners, IMO No 8852411.

Source: http://www.tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=4284

The other tug is the TAURUS.
Built in 1967, as a tugboat by Main Iron Works Incorporated of Houma, Louisiana yard no 186 as the POSEIDON for the Sabine Towing and Transportation Company of The Groves, Texas.
Launched as the POSEIDON.
Tonnage 143 grt, 79 nrt, dim. dim. 21.7 x 7.4 x 3.11m.
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In 1980, the tug was acquired by the Triangle Shifting and Fleeting Service Incorporated of Bridge City, Texas. Where she was renamed as the R.I. TRAHAN.
In 1989, she was acquired by International Barge Incorporated of Cincinnati, Ohio. Where the tug was renamed as the RAY PATER.
In 1992, the tug was acquired by the Cenac Towing Company Incorporated of Houma, Louisiana. Where she was renamed as the MARIE CENAC .
In 2004, she was chartered by Horizon Maritime Incorporated of Houston, Texas. Where the tug was renamed as the TAURUS.
In 2005, the tug was acquired Horizon Maritime Incorporated of Houston, Texas. Where she retained her name.
In 2008, she was acquired by Teppco Marine Services Incorporated of Houma, Louisiana. Where the tug was renamed as the TAURUS CENAC.
In 2009, the tug was acquired by Enterprise Marine Services Incorporated of San Antonio, Texas. Where she was renamed as the TAURUS.
In 2015, she was acquired by the LA Carriers Transportation Service Incorporated of Cut Off, Louisiana. Where the tug was renamed as the AVOREE NOEL.
Re powered in 1992, she is now driven by three, Cummins KT19-M2 diesel engines. With Twin Disc 521 reduction gears, at a ratio of 7:1. Turning three 66(in) by 62(in), stainless steel, four bladed, fixed pitch propellers. She is a triple screw towboat, rated at 1,725 horsepower.
Her electrical service is provided by two, 40kW, Cummins 6B, generator sets. The tug's capacities are 18,000 gallons of fuel, 300 gallons of lube oil, and 5,000 gallons of water.
The towing equipment consists of two, 40 ton, Patterson push winches
2020 In service, same name and owner. IMO No 8332629.

Source: http://www.tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=9551

The barges seen on the stamp are tank barges and used to carry liquid cargoes as petroleum products, chemicals and commodities such as molasses for cattle feed.
Typical tank barges on the Mississippi River are 59.43m. long by a beam of 10.67m.
The larger barges have a dead weight of approximately 500 to 600 tons.

Source: Internet.
United States 2012 forever stamp sg?, scott?