Hope Services of Dulac, La., is putting the finishing touches on the 20th in the series of their popular 72x30-ft.
pushboats. The last two, the 18th and 19th to the design, were built for Higman Towing of Houston, and were delivered in May and August of 2002. Each boat in the series is powered by a pair of 12-cylinder Cummins KTA38 M0 engines rated for 850 hp at 1,800 rpm. The engines turn into Twin Disc 540 gears with 6.14:1 reduction. The 73 x 56-in. four-blade stainless propellers are mounted on six-in. stainless shafts. Electrical needs are met by a pair of Cummins 6B series powered 50 kW gen sets. Accommodation on the 1,700 hp tugs is provided for six people in three staterooms with additional space utilized for a washer and dryer. With a molded depth of 10 ft., the hull holds tankage for 20,000 gallons of fuel, 10,000 gallons of potable water and 10,000 gallons of fresh water as well as ballast tanks. Steering and flanking rudders are controlled through a system provided by Custom Hydraulics. The vessel is equipped with Kobelt air controls. The current vessel has been built on spec and the yard is open to negotiation on its sale. As yet unnamed the boat will be completed and ready for delivery in mid-January.