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. vessel has an 11.6-ft., molded depth and will be delivered in the spring of 2007.