J Pasentine News

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc.The vessel’s twin Cat 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered of the M/V Jaden Pasentine (Hull 200). The 70th 90’x 32’x 10’ Inland Towboat built by Eastern for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA. In 2018, Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed four more additional towboats, bringing the total to seventy (70) vessels contracted over the last 14 years. The M/V Jaden Pasentine  was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility and designed by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.The M/V Jaden Pasentine  for Florida Marine is powered by two (2) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1…

Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. said it has delivered the M/V Victoria Pasentine, a 120’ towboat with a retractable pilot house, to its home port of New Orleans. The vessel, the 20th built by Horizon for Florida Marine Transporters (FMT) during their nine years of doing business together, was completed and delivered on April 11, 2017. The steel construction Victoria Pasentine is 120’-0” LOA x 35’0” x 11’-6”, weighs in at 387 gross tons, and has an ABS Load Line Certificate to operate in the waters between Chicago to Burns Harbor for fair weather voyages. With the house fully retracted, the max air draft is 17’-8”. It is also outfitted for service in certain areas restricted to overhead clearances and draft limitation.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V CAPT. RICKY TORRES (Hull 194) on October 11, 2016, and the M/V CULLEN PASENTINE (Hull 195) on December 28, 2016; the 64th and the 65th 90’ Inland Towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA., continuing FMT’s ongoing new build program. It was in early 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to sixty-five (65) vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past twelve months. The M/V CAPT. RICKY TORRES and the M/V CULLEN PASENTINE were constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Alabama has delivered the M/V A.B. York, a 120’ towboat, to its longtime customer Florida Marine Transporters (FMT).This is the nineteenth vessel delivered to FMT by Horizon and the ninth 120’ towboat. Travis Short, President of Horizon Shipbuilding, stated, “After the delivery of the A.B. York this brings the total horsepower delivered to FMT by Horizon to nearly 100,000 and counting! It is hard to grasp that nearly a decade has passed. Horizon appreciates the privilege to have been given the honor to build incredible boats for a truly incredible company. The M/V A.B. York, designed by John Gilbert…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, LA exercised another additional 90’x32’x10’ “Canal Class” Inland Towboat to the six (6) vessel program currently under contract. In September 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the 7th vessel and this additional towboat brings the total to sixty-two (62) vessels contracted. Three (3) of the now seven (7) towboats have been delivered to Florida Marine since February 2014. This option vessel will be constructed from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA. This series of towboats originally began with a twenty-five (25) vessel contract with on-time deliveries starting in 2006.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. exercised one additional 90’x32’x10’ Canal Class Inland Towboat to the five vessel program currently under contract. On August 5, 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the sixth vessel and with this additional towboat brings the total to sixty-one (61) vessels contracted. This option vessel adds one more towboat that will be constructed from the design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

Gulf Coast Shipyard Group (GCSG) announced the launch of FMT 6000, the first of Florida Marine Transportation’s (FMT) new 6000 series 6.4 PSI–30,000 barrel environmentally friendly tank barges. The new series continues Florida Marine Transportation’s tradition of having the latest design and most environmentally-friendly equipment operating on America’s waterways. Utilizing proprietary engineering developed for FMT by the engineering group of Guarino & Cox, this series of new barges minimizes vapors escaping into the atmosphere while increasing safety factors when the barge is in operation.

Trinity Offshore, LLC and FMT Industries, LLC are pleased to announce the christening and launch of FMT 3242, the first of ten 297’6” x 54’ x 12’, 30,000 barrel tank barges. The festivities were held at TY Offshore’s Gulfport, Mississippi facility yesterday, July 24, 2012, and mark the first launch of what will become an entire fleet of barges. The remaining launches will follow on at thirty day intervals. FMT Industries, LLC, is one of the several companies within the Florida Marine Group (Florida Marine). The barges are being built at TY Offshore’s Gulfport, Mississippi facility.

FMT Industries, LLC, A Florida Marine Transporters Affiliate, Signs Contract to Build Four 30,000 Barrel Fuel Barges with Trinity Offshore, LLC. Order Indicates Florida Marine’s Ongoing Commitment to Customers. FMT Industries, LLC—an affiliate of Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (Florida Marine)—has signed a contract with Trinity Offshore, LLC to build four 297’6” x 54’ x 12’, 30,000 barrel tank barges. Florida Marine’s Chairman and CEO, Dennis A. Pasentine, says, “The order is part of Florida Marine’s ongoing commitment to meet its customers’ needs.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has launched the third of five 140-ft towboats for Florida Marine Transporters (FMT). The M/V Rusty Zeller was launched on February 28, 2010 at Horizon Shipbuilding’s Bayou La Batre facility using their 600 metric ton TraveLift. This TravelLift is the largest on the Gulf Coast and allows for efficient launch of new vessels. It also facilitates lift and relaunch in a matter of hours instead of days, which results in quick turnaround for the repair of existing vessels up to 200 ft in length and 50 ft beam.