Lady Loren: Big Hours, Little Wear
Russell Plaisance, president of Louisiana Carriers, built the pusher-tug Lady Loren at Dickie Adam’s Lockport Fabrication in 2008. At the launch, he explained that the boat was the result of five years of planning and a lifetime of experience in the maritime world of the Gulf of Mexico. The 82- by 29-foot Lady Loren was the seventh boat in the LA Carriers’ fleet. “ I keep my business diversified, ” Plaisance explained at the time. “We do $10 or 11 million gross per year including some business with the oil industry, but we do a little of everything else as well.
LA Carriers Lady Loren
“This boat was five years in the planning,” said LA Carriers owner, Russel Plaisance, as he looked over a tug that he will place into operation by the end of December. The new vessel, to be named Lady Loren, will be the seventh vessel in the LA Carriers fleet. The boat is building at Dickie Adams Lockport Fabrication Inc. Plaisance first went to work on his dad’s fishing boat at 17 and by 21 he had his masters license. Several decades have passed since that time and each year has taught him a bit more about the maritime business and boats to serve it.
Lockport Launches Tug for LA Carriers
Lockport Fabrication has splashed another of their classic gulf-style tugs into the Bayou this month. The 82 by 29-foot model bow tug joins LA Carriers, LLC of Cut Off, Louisiana. The new vessel joins the Bayou LaFourche-based firm founded by Mr. Russell Plaisance in 1986. The firm has achieved success towing general cargos as well as serving the oil industry. With a molded depth of 10 feet and a draft of only eight feet, the tug delivers a total of 1,980 HP. This high horsepower…
Lockport Finishes Third in Series
Supreme Servics Inc. is expecting delivery of the third in a series of Frank Basile designed utility vessels. All three vessels are from Richard Adams Sr. and son Dickie Adams’ Lockport Fabrication. The first, the Betha G, was delivered in March 2006 with a second, the Warren Thomas, in early 2007. The third vessel, the Penny F, will deliver in early 2008. All three vessels are 166 by 36 ft. and powered by a pair of Cummins KTA38-M0 main engines generating 850 hp at 1800 rpm. A pair of Cummins 6CTA8.3-powered 99 kW generator sets provide electrical service.
Another Utility Vessel for Supreme Service
The Fanguy brothers are optimistic about the ongoing demand for versatile off shore supply vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Last summer their Supreme Services Inc. took delivery of the 166 by 36-foot Bertha D. Now they are anticipating the delivery of a sister-ship, the OSV Warren Thomas. Main engines in the vessel are a pair of Cummins KTA38-M0. Gen sets are a pair of Cummins 6CTA8.3 producing 99 kw each and the bow thruster is powered by a Cummins QSM11M-360. By early December 2006 when the attached photo was taken at the Lockport Fabrication Inc. yard the latest vessel was nearing completion and should deliver in January.
Lockport Builds Triple Screw Model Bow Tug
Dickie Adams’ at Lockport Fabrication has a triple screw model bow tug building for Russell Plaisance of Galliano Louisiana. Powered by three six-cylinder Cummins KTA19 engines the boat is being built to a Frank Basile (Entech and Associates Inc.) design. While a triple engine and triple screw configuration is a common method of maintaining a shallow draft, this boat is interesting in that only the middle propeller is fitted with a kort nozzles while the two outside props will be open. Basle explains that he has had vessels built to this design with two Cummins KTA38s for main engines but since this owner will be using the boat to service near shore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico the triple engine installation will deliver a similar bollard pull with a shallower draft. The 84 x 27-ft.
Small Yard, Big Boat
The Bayou Country of Louisiana has a reputation as a place where great boats are built in small yards. When Richard Adams Sr. opened his Lockport Fabrication yard on the bank of Bayou Lafourche at Lockport in 1979 he became a part of that tradition. Now, at 72 years of age, he comes in every day to work with his son Richard “Dickie” Adams Jr. Over the years the two men have launched a lot of boats from their yard. Recently, when they launched the supply vessel Bertha D stern first, her166-foot length nearly reached to the opposite bank of the bayou. Designed by naval architect Frank Basil of Houma Louisiana for owners Supreme Services also of Houma, the boat has a 36-ft. beam and a 14-ft. molded depth. The hull is fabricated from 3/4 and 1/2-inch steel plate.
