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. Contained in the hull is tankage for 2,500 barrels of liquid mud, 33,000 gallons of methanol, 60,000 gallons of fuel, 20,000 gallons of potable water and 800 gallons of lube oil. Seven ballast tanks have a capacity for a total of 38,000 gallons. Propulsion for the Berth D is provided by a pair of Cummins KTA38 M0 main engines each generating 850 hp at 1800 rpm. The mains turn 70-inch four blade Michigan propellers through ZF4660 marine gears with 5.5:1 reduction. A pair of Cummins 6CTA-powered 99 kW gen sets provide electrical and pumping power. The drop down azimuthing bow thruster that supports the DP1 equipped boat is powered by hydraulics driven by a 350 HP Cummins QSM11 engine that also powers the fire monitor pump and the hydraulic anchor winch. About 40 ft. from the stern of the large open cargo deck and just to the port side of the keel line, a plate can be removed to reveal a 30-inch diameter moon pool for use when working with divers and other subsurface events in rough weather. The Bertha D will be delivered to her owners in March of this year. It is the first to two supply vessels for the same owner with the second to deliver at the end of 2006.