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Bayou Labatre News

15 Feb 2018

Triple-screw Tug for the Hudson

(Photo: Cummins/Alan Haig-Brown)

“The Daisy Mae is the closest you can get to Z-drive maneuverability, without the cost of Z-drive,” maintains her builder Joseph Rodriguez of Rodriguez Ship Building Inc. in Bayou LaBatre, Ala. Rodriguez has designed and built a lot of tugs over the years and doesn’t make this claim lightly. Further more he backs it up with his description of the beamy 82 by 32-foot tug that his yard delivered to Coeymans Marine Towing. This is one of the Carver group companies based at the Port of Coeymans 110 miles up the Columbia River from New York.

02 Feb 2016

Jensen to Design McAllister’s New Escort Tugs

Brian A. McAllister (Image: Jensen Maritime)

Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, was selected to provide detailed design services including stability, structure and systems design for two, 100-foot long, 40-foot wide, escort tugs for McAllister Towing. The 12-knot, 6,770-horsepower tugs will be constructed at Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., in Bayou LaBatre, Ala., and are scheduled for delivery in 2017. The Brian A. McAllister and the Rosemary McAllister will be the 31st and 32nd oceangoing escort/rescue tugboats in the fleet respectively…

18 Jun 2015

Repower and More for the Cornelia Marie

One of the best-known commercial fishing vessels in the world, the Cornelia Marie, has just undergone life-extending surgery. The Bering Sea crabber has gained a wide public following both for the family saga of ownership and for her role in the television series Deadliest Catch that portrays the challenges of one of the world’s toughest fisheries. When Roger Thomas and his partner Kari Toivola began searching for a Bering Sea crab investment, Roger called Casey McManus. Casey has skippered the Cornelia Marie and is a shareholder in the boat. After checking with the other owner, Josh Harris, he got back to Thomas and Toivola with an offer of a 50 percent stake in the famous boat. The two flew to Dutch Harbor in January 2015 to inspect the vessel.

05 Dec 2014

Denet Towing Repower Saves 20% in Fuel

Jerrold Denet, owner of Denet Towing in Boothville, La., is as straight forward as they come. When asked why he started his towing company in 1982, the response was incredulous: “Why did I start it? When asked why he repowered his M/V Ocean Pride from a 12-cylinder  V with a pair of six-cylinder in—line Scania DI-13 continuous duty engines with 450hp @ 1800 rpm through Twin Disc MGX 516 marine gears, the answer was similarly blunt: “This is where my money is best spent,” said Denet. “We are producing more power and burning less fuel.

24 Nov 2014

An Efficient Addition to a Strong Fleet

Photo courtesy of Rodriguez Boat Builders

Cvitanovic towing of Belle Chasse, Louisiana has taken delivery of a fourth vessel for its fleet of highly efficient Lugger-style tugs. Built at the Rodriguez yard in Bayou LaBatre, Alabama, the 65 by 26-foot, Andrew C, is slightly smaller than the 67.5 by 26-foot Pere C (2011) and George C (2012). Cummins QSK19-M mains power the two larger vessels. The smaller size permitted the Andrew C to take advantage of a pair of Cummins 355 HP QSM11-M main engines for a total of 710 HP.

26 May 2014

Blessey Marine Growth Continues With Cummins-powered Pushboats

Over the past decade Blessey Marine has coasted on a growth curve taking delivery of a large number of Cummins-powered pushboats for their inland fleet. The vessels are sized to share a common versatility with the draft and horsepower to work both the shallower waters of the Intracoastal Waterway and power for the big flows of the Mississippi River. A look at the company equipment list (http://www.blessey.com/Equipment/Vessels/EquipmentList.pdf ) shows a number of vessels with either 1700 or 2000 horsepower. The lower HP boats are 76 feet long while the higher HP boats are 80 to 88 feet long. Both sets of vessels are fitted with a pair of the popular K38M main engines. The 76-footers each have the engines with an 850-HP rating while the larger hulls have the 1000-HP rating.

31 Mar 2014

Rodriguez Shipbuilding Delivers Powerful Shallow-Draft Tugboat

Sea Cypress profile: Image Cummins Hotips

The yard recently delivered a Cummins powered 75 by 28-foot model bow tug to Morgan City-based Garber Bros. Inc. and Sea Cypress LLC for Gulf of Mexico operations, inform Cummins Hotips. Cummins explain that over the years, Rodriguez Shipbuilding Inc, of Bayou LaBatre Alabama has probably delivered more shallow-draft tugs than any other US-yard. Their signature lugger-type tug design, with its distinctive aft cabin and wheelhouse, has a strong following amongst US Gulf Coast operators servicing near shore petro-operations.

30 Jul 2013

New Tugs: Big Power, Shallow Draft

Bayou LaBatre Alabama has long been recognized for the production of its many shipyards. Currently the Rodriguez Shipyard is in the process of adding several more tugs to the dozens that they have launched over the decades. From the computer assisted design work of owner Joey Rodriguez, the latest creation is a shallow draft triple screw tug for Roy Garber’s Sea Cypress LLC in Berwick Louisiana. At 78 by 28 feet Rodriguez Hull #307 has a ten-foot molded depth. Three Cummins QSK19-M diesels…

16 Apr 2013

A New Era in Fleeting

Ship docking tugs now take the Z-drive for granted, but it has found only limited acceptance for river towboats. That is about to change with a new boat being built for The Carline Companies at Raymond and Associates in Bayou LaBatre. One of the Carline companies is the Burnside Fleet located at Mile 169 on the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. When the big tows of up to 40 195 x 35-foot barges come down river, it is the fleeting tugs job to take selected barges off the tow and park them in the riverside fleet.

05 Aug 2011

Blessey Marine: Rollin’ On The River

Photos courtesy of Blessey Marine

The demand for handy sized towboats to handle inland river tows continues to grow and one of the strongest contributors to that growth is Blessey Marine. Primarily handling petroleum-related products, the firm has grown rapidly to their present fleet size of over 60 towboats with more on order. Although they have vessels ranging from 700 to 4900 HP, the 2000 HP Class is proving popular. Two recent deliveries illustrate slightly different sizes and configuration of their 2000 HP towboats. The MV Steve Scalise was built at the Verret Shipyard in Plaquemine, Louisiana to a design by the shipyard.

25 Aug 2010

Twelve Good Boats, Kirby Marine

Photo courtesy Jeff L. Yates photo courtesy of Cummins Marine

Already the operator of the largest fleet of inland tank barges on U.S. inland waters, Kirby Marine Transportation, has recently added twelve more push boats to its fleet. The twelfth in a series of sister vessels was delivered from Raymond and Associates of Bayou LaBatre, Ala. in late July 2010. All twelve of the 1700 hp boats are 76 by 35-ft in length. Each boat is powered by a pair of Tier 2 compliant Cummins K38-M diesels rated for 850 hp each at 1800 rpm. The engines turn big 76 by 56-inch five-blade props through Twin Disc TD MT540 gears with relatively large ratios of 7:1.

25 Mar 2009

New Crewboat from Horizon Shipbuilding

The Nigerian firm Fymak Marine & Oil Services has recently taken delivery of a new crewboat designed and built by Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou LaBatre, Alabama. The M/V Chinyelugo is 170 ft long with a 31 ft beam and 13.5 ft molded depth. Propulsion on the aluminum vessel is provided by four Cummins KTA-50 M2 engines each delivering 1800 HP at 1800 RPM through Twin Disc MGX 6848 gears with 2.58:1 ratios to Hamilton HM811 water jets. The crewboat has a design speed of 30 knots. The vessel is fitted with a 230 HP Thrustmaster of Texas bow thruster.

16 Mar 2009

Handy Sized OSV for Gulf Resource

A new off shore supply vessel has joined the Gulf Resource Management Inc. (GRMI) fleet working the Gulf of Mexico. The 140 by 34 ft M/V Luke Thomas was designed at the owners direction with an accommodation space that extends the full 34 ft width of the hull to maximize crew comfort. In addition to a crew of four, the OSV can accommodate up to 16 offshore workers or 22 passengers. The vessels distinctive design is from Sterling Marine LLC and was built by Master Marine LLC in Bayou LaBatre Alabama.

09 Feb 2009

Updating the Pusher Design

The medium sized pusher towboat is a stable of the U.S. Inland waterways marine transport. Built to work comfortably in the confines of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway they must also have enough power to handle the distances and currents of the Mississippi. Recently some owners have built tugs to updated deigns. Kirby Marine has had a series of boats built at Raymond and Associates LLC shipyard in Bayou LaBatre Alabama. Florida Marine also had a series of new towboats built. These continue to be delivered from Eastern Shipbuilding.

06 Oct 2008

Z-Drive on the Ohio

Delivered from Steiner Shipyard in Bayou LaBatre on September 29, the first of Southern Towing's Cummins-powered Z-drive tugs is now pushing barges on the inland waterways. Photographer Jeff L. Yates has provided Cummins Marine with the attached shot of the Frank T. Stegbauer on the Ohio River at on September 30, 2008. According to the company newsletter several wheelmen have already gone for Z-drive training. At 120 x 34 ft., this is a mid-size inland waterway towboat. The vessel…

02 Oct 2001

The Specialists: A Quartet of S. Louisiana Yards Builds Most U.S. Crew/Supply Boats

The area directly south of Lafayette, La., is authentic bayou country, known for Cajun culture, excellent food, unique music and, for boat lovers, the crew/supply boat capital of the world. Four boat yards in this area build these multi-engine, all- aluminum, speedy vessels, almost exclusively. Each yard turns out up to six crew/supply boats a year. In fact, three of the shipyards are located within just a few miles from each other in the tiny hamlet of Loreauville, La., a town that seems to be made up mostly of aluminum welders. That, of course, is an exaggeration, but not by much. Not every vessel delivered from these shipyards goes to work supporting the search for oil and gas…

15 Oct 2001

Working Shallow Draft In the Gulf of Mexico

Rodriguez Boat Builders, of Bayou LaBatre, Ala., will deliver one more of their popular lugger tugs to Central Boat Rental of Morgan City, La., at the end October. Designed for the specialized tasks of supporting shallow water oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico they are as much supply boat as tug. Joe Rodriguez explains that the 65 by 24-ft. boat can work in water as shallow as five ft. While it features a model bow for open water work, it is designed to push a supply barge as well as to tow rigs and equipment from place to place. It also can transport liquids with tankage for 9,000 gallons of fuel and 12,000 gallons on potable water. Propulsion for the new boat, the Miss KerriLyn, is provided by a pair of Cummins N14 engines rated for 480 hp each at 1,800 rpm.

16 Oct 2001

Rodriguez Building Twin-Screw Shrimpers

Rodriguez Shipyard in Bayou LaBatre, Ala. is enjoying a busy season with a twin-screw shrimper currently under construction for a late November delivery. The new boat, for owner Steve Nguyan, will be similar to the Lucky B delivered to Louisiana customer Ba Nguyan last August. At 98 by 26 by 12-ft., the boats, are each powered by a pair of Cummins 6-cylinder KTA19 M3 engines rated for 600 hp at 1800 RPM. turning into twin disc 5202 gears with 6.1:1 reductions. The twin engines provide plenty of power but the primary reasons for owners choosing twins is redundancy and close quarter maneuverability, explains Joe Rodriguez. A pair of Cummins…

25 Jan 2002

Graham Oil Services Expands Boat Fleet

Boconco Shipbuilding's offices on Bayou LaBatre's Shell Belt Road are surrounded by prefabricated steel components for several utility boats building at the yard. A series of 126 by 30 by 12-foot boats are being built for delivery to Barry Graham Oil Services also of Bayou LaBatre. Alabama. The sister-ship was delivered two years ago with the others to be delivered at regular intervals over the coming year. The first of this set of boats launched on the high water Thursday evening January 23 and will be named the Capt. Levert in honour of Barry Graham's 87-year old maternal grandfather. Capt. Levert Seaman had a 100-ton license and has worked most types of boats along the Gulf Coast…

05 Apr 2004

Vessels: Fewer, but More Capable OSVs Being Produced in Gulf Shipyards

As noted in the accompanying article the Gulf of Mexico is in the midst of a drilling malaise. The days when southern shipyards routinely turned out 50-60 supply boats and an equal number of crew/supply vessels is over at least for the time being. The last three years has seen an unprecedented number of OSVs joined the fleets of Tidewater, Hornbeck, Otto Candies, Edison Chouest and other major offshore operators. Leevac Shipyards is a prime example. For the last four years they have built almost exclusively for Hornbeck Offshore Services, producing a number of 200-260 ft. very capable supply boats including four 240-ft. platform supply vessels in 2003. Today their order book includes a huge casino boat and a large 445-ft. by 78-ft. tank barge, but no OSVs. Quality Shipyards, Houma, La.

13 Nov 2001

Working Shallow Draft In the Gulf of Mexico

Rodriguez Boat Builders, of Bayou LaBatre, Ala., delivered one more of their popular lugger tugs to Central Boat Rental of Morgan City, La., at the end October. Designed for the specialized tasks of supporting shallow water oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico they are as much supply boat as tug. Joe Rodriguez explains that the 65 x 24-ft. boat can work in water as shallow as five ft. While it features a model bow for open water work, it is designed to push a supply barge as well as to tow rigs and equipment from place to place. It also can transport liquids with tankage for 9,000 gallons of fuel and 12,000 gallons on potable water. Propulsion for the new boat, the Miss KerriLyn, is provided by a pair of Cummins N14 engines rated for 480 hp each at 1,800 rpm.

08 Oct 2007

Pusher Towboat Delivered

Pictured is the launch of the M/V Christyn Renee, built by Rodriguez Shipyard in Bayou LaBatre, Alabama. The boat is powered by a pair of Cummins QSM11 engines, each generating 355 hp at 1,800 rpm. (Photo by Charlie Rodriguez)

20 Jul 2005

Playing the Tier Game

With few exceptions, marine power is diesel power and emissions levels from diesel engines are coming under increased scrutiny and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency. The levels of acceptable NOx, carbon monoxide and particulate matter for diesel engines in U.S. flagged vessels depends on the displacement of the engine. The EPA has settled on a liters-per-cylinder measurement to determine the schedule to meet the emission requirements. For example, marine diesel engines between 1.2 and 2.5 liters per cylinder have had to meet what is known as Tier Two requirements since 2004. These are engines typically used to power small gensets, bow thrusters, fire pumps and other auxiliary engine requirements.