Tidewater Marine Services News

Owners of tank barges eye November 15, 2015 with trepidation, as by then they must ensure that tank barge power units meet USCG Class 1, Division 1 requirements for non-sparking machinery in a hazardous environment. Laborde Products – with the “mechanical advantage of the Mitsubishi” – claims to have the solution. Covington, La.-based Laborde Products is not your standard diesel engine distributor. While Laborde Products was founded in 1998 by Tracy Laborde, the Laborde family has been heavily involved in the marine industry since 1954…

Laborde Products, Inc. of Covington, La. has entered into a Marine Engine Distribution Agreement with Mitsubishi Engine North America, Inc. This agreement includes the full range of MHI large bore marine engines as well as MMC Diesel Engines for generator packages and barge pump power packages. Although Mitsubishi offers a full range of marine propulsion engines with horsepower up to 1,500, Laborde will begin its effort with the Mitsubishi model S6A3-MPTA, rated at 483 hp @ 1,840 rpm. This heavy-duty 18.56-liter diesel engine was selected because it meets a wide range of potential re-power applications within the inland towing industry.

Three Vericor Power Systems' TF50 marine aeroderivative gas turbines have been selected to power the 118 Wallypower high-speed yacht being built by Intermarine Shipyard, Sarzana, Italy for Wally Yacht. This is Wally Yacht's first foray into high-speed power yachts, and the company's initial application of gas turbines. Wally Yacht, based in Monte Carlo, Monaco, is a world-renowned designer of high-speed sailing and power yachts. The 118-ft. yacht will feature three TF50 gas turbines in a Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) turbine configuration. Two TF50s will be used as side or "wing" engines, with one small auxiliary diesel engine connected to each wing engine. The diesels will provide for very slow maneuvering only.