Kody Marine News

Following on the success of the Dreama Klaiber, launched in late 1999, Blessey Marine’s latest boat is an evolution of that concept. While the Dreama dimensions are 95x30x12.6, the new boat will be 110 x 32 x 11.5-feet. This allows for the same power with a shallower draft. The new boat will also be powered by a pair of 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3200 hp (2,388 kW) for continuous duty at 1800 RPM. the engines are equipped with Cummins’ optional CENTRY electronic engine control systems and drive through Reintjes WAF 772 marine gears with a reduction of 7:1 turning 88- x 68-inch four-blade stainless steel propellers on eight-inch diameter shafts. The vessel is equipped with four flanking and two steering rudders, as are all of Blessey's towboats.

The design challenge for towboats in the new Millennium is they are being called upon to do tougher jobs on the water but at the same time have be more environmentally friendly to the water on which they sail. Also, many of today's towboats are light years ahead of their predecessors of just a few years ago in crew amenities and berthing spaces. "Much of the new technology we are seeing on towboats is because of new IMO, EPA, OSHA and ABS regulations," said Terry Boffone, president of Progressive Barge Line, Westwego, La. Progressive's business is mid-streaming fueling, so careful delivery of the products they carry such as diesel fuel and gasoline from the tank barge to the ship is critical.

Kody Marine of Harvey, La. began construction of a push boat for Blessy Marine. "It will be similar to the Dreama Klaiber and the Walter E. Blessey Jr." says Blessey's Mitch Jones, "With the same propulsion package and four deck layout, but it is longer and wider." The progression in size has been evolutionary. The Dreama, launched in late 1999, is 95 x 30 x 12.5 ft. and the Walter, launched in mid-2002, is longer and wider at 110 x 32 x 11.5 ft. Now the new boat will add still more to the dimensions to become 120 ft. long with a 34-ft. beam and a 12.5-ft. molded depth. Jones explains that the additional beam gives the boat a shallower draft while the increased length gives improved performance.

"The resurgence in the push boat new-builds for the petro-chemical market has been a pleasant surprise for Cummins Mid-South," says Calvin Klotz Vice-President for Marine Sales. Mid-South currently has engines for a half dozen or more Cummins-powered push-boats on order. Three of these boats are building at Kody Marine for Higman Marine Services' associated firm Maryland Marine Inc. The first vessel, to be named Skipjack, was delivered at the end of May. Construction on the two sister-ships is to start by July 1. Each of these three boats will be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA38 M1 main engines rated for 1,000 hp each at 1,800 rpm. The engines turn into Twin Disc MG540 gears with 6.18:1 ratios. The 78 x 53-in. propellers are mounted on 16-ft. by 8-in. cold rolled shafts.

While they continue to grow their fleet with the February delivery of a 1,600 hp retractable wheelhouse towboat, Blessy Marine also now have their most powerful tug under construction at Kody Marine. With the conventional shallow water draft of the river wheelhouse towboat, it will have an adjustable air draft. To meet requirements of the Upper Mississippi and other small and bridged rivers where she will work, she was designed by Design Associates of New Orleans, with a telescoping three stage hydraulic ram to lift the wheelhouse from a low position with a clearance over the wheelhouse once the antenna has been retracted, of just 18 ft. Fully extended the top of the wheelhouse has an eye level view of 32 ft.

Built at Kody Marine just across the river from New Orleans, Blessey Marine's new flagship M/V Dreama Klaiber is the first inland river pushboat in North America to be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3,200 hp for continuous duty at 1,800 rpm. The 16-cylinder main engines, are equipped with Cummins' CENTRY electronic fuel control systems and drive through Reintjes WAF 772 marine gears with a reduction of 7.01:1 turning 86 x 76-in. propellers. At the Christening party and open house in New Orleans, visitors in town for the annual International Workboat Show marveled at the spacious engine room with the 16V main engines set amidst well laid out valves and piping for the various fuel, lube and water tanks.

Kody Marine of Harvey, La. began construction of a powerful push boat for Blessy Marine. "It will be similar to the Dreama Klaiber and the Walter E. The progression in size has been evolutionary. The Dreama, launched in late 1999, is 95x30x12.6 feet and the Walter, launched in mid-2002, is longer and wider at 110 x 32 x 11.5 feet. Now the new boat will add still more to the dimensions to become 120 feet long with a 34-foot beam and a 12.5-foot molded depth. Jones explains that the additional beam gives the boat a shallower draft while the increased length gives improved performance. All three vessels are built with the same proven main engine package of a pair of 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3200 hp (2,388 kW) for continuous duty at 1800 RPM.