Barrel Oil Barges News

In 1951, under the leadership of Capt. Fred’s son, Morton S. Bouchard Sr., (A.K.A. “Buster” Bouchard), the company builds three 20,000 barrel oil barges and three accompanying tugboats, which ran the New York State Barge Canal. The construction of these vessels would then, in the years that followed, lead to Buster’s position as a prominent figure within the oil transportation industry. The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine.

On the Mississippi and throughout the U.S. inland waterways, pushboats of about 70 feet and with around 2000 hp are ubiquitous. They can be seen in barge fleeting operations along the riverbanks for pushing one or two 30,000-barrel oil barges. In recent years, the standard power package has been a pair of Cummins’ popular KV38-M engines. These V-12-clylinder 2300-cubic-inch displacement engines have evolved over the years to take advantage of new technologies and, more recently, to meet new environmental standards. Gary Eymard has been around the inland towboat world for some time also.

SeaBuilders, LLC said it is accepting orders for the first quarter of 2008 to construct 30,000 barrel and 60,000 barrel oil barges. The company also announced that it has received an initial $3 million round of funding from Harbor Bunkering Corporation of Puerto Rico. SeaBuilders shipyard opened to provide capacity, as well as a new, more efficient approach to barge building, according to the company. SeaBuilders is expecting to leverage its Lean Manufacturing Process to build barges faster, more efficiently and more cost effectively. "We are delighted to offer the industry a solution — SeaBuilders is available to now take orders and by leveraging the Lean Manufacturing Process…

Jon Gonsoulin is not one to rest on his legacy. Jon’s grandfather, Earl, began working with the LeBeouf brothers back in 1946 and soon bought into the company. In time, Earl and his two sons, Richard and Jerry, were able to buy the LeBeouf brothers' shares. Earl turned over the helms to his sons in the 1970's. From that time forward, the two brothers continued to strengthen and consolidate the company’s position. In 2005, Richard “Dickie” Gonsoulin purchased his brother's interest in the company. Today the company is solely owned by Dickie with Jon taking an ever more active role in forging the company’s present and future growth. The current fleet is comprised of 22 push boats including the recently delivered M/V Merle Gonsoulin and the M/V Sydney Ann.

Built at Kody Marine just across the river from New Orleans, Blessey Marine's new flagship M/V Dreama Klaiber is the first inland river pushboat in North America to be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3,200 hp for continuous duty at 1,800 rpm. The 16-cylinder main engines, are equipped with Cummins' CENTRY electronic fuel control systems and drive through Reintjes WAF 772 marine gears with a reduction of 7.01:1 turning 86 x 76-in. propellers. At the Christening party and open house in New Orleans, visitors in town for the annual International Workboat Show marveled at the spacious engine room with the 16V main engines set amidst well laid out valves and piping for the various fuel, lube and water tanks.