Fmt News

Three people are dead following a shooting incident at a shipyard in Harvey, La., near New Orleans.The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating a double homicide at the FMT Shipyard & Repair facility on the West bank of the Mississippi River, and that a suspect was later killed after a shootout with deputies.Around 1 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a report of a shooting at the shipyard. Upon arrival, officials located two unresponsive adult males—both contract employees at the shipyard—who had suffered gunshot wounds.

Florida Marine Transporters LLC Holdings has completed a refinancing with  a unit of TCW Asset Management Company LLC.Investment bank Carl Marks Advisors announced it facilitated the transaction.FMT, headquartered in Mandeville, La., is one of America’s largest independent, family-owned, Jones-Act-compliant marine transportation companies, providing liquid petrochemical, chemical cargo, and dry cargo transportation services in the inland waterways of the United States, primarily the Gulf intercoastal Waterway and Mississippi River System.

A missing retaining ring and mounting bracket on the port main diesel engine led to an engine-room fire on a towing vessel near Belleview, Ky., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.Florida Marine Transporters' (FMT) towing vessel Capt. Kirby Dupuis was pushing loaded dry cargo barges on the Ohio River when a fire broke out on its portside engine on November 9, 2021. The crewmembers fought the fire using portable extinguishers and attempted to activate the vessel’s fixed fire-extinguishing system. The fire was eventually extinguished by local firefighters.

Thordon Bearings Reports it has secured a contract to supply a range of water-lubricated and grease-free bearings for installation to several fleet boats under construction at the FMT Shipyard & Repair facility, for workboat owner Maritime Partners.Twelve twin-screw push boats are scheduled to be delivered from the Louisiana shipyard with equipment that includes RiverTough tailshaft bearings, ThorPlas-Blue rudder bearings with Pucker Seals, ThorPlas-Blue steering linkage bushings…

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.

The American shipbuilding scene, filled with participants constructing all manner of vessels, has been navigating through stormy times (lately, yards along the Gulf Coast have literally been dealing with storms). The orders for newbuild, repair and conversion projects continue to flow in—albeit at a reduced pace—and the boats and ships go down the ways into the water, but the overall panorama has seen tremendous sea changes as the business has shifted.Maritime businesses worldwide have been grappling with currents both internal and external.

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…

It is truly no accident that Delgado Maritime & Industrial Training Center and Florida Marine Transport collaborate so closely.Zero incidents, zero injuries and eliminating critical barge and equipment failures doesn’t just happen by osmosis. It’s a result of continual safety training that breeds operational awareness and confidence to anticipate a difficult situation on an inland waterway before it actually occurs.With a high school education, Capt. Shelden Detrafford started out making $25/day in the 1960s.

For the first time in its nearly 50-year history, Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor welcomed general cargo vessel HC Melina carrying a unique shipment of two, large rubber-tire gantry (RTG) cranes destined for the CSX Intermodal Terminals’ facility in Chicago.Once the 68-piece shipment is fully assembled, the RTG cranes will have a span of eight containers wide and with a hoisting height of one over four containers high. The high-performance equipment will replace two older units at the CSX Intermodal Terminals’ Bedford Park facility…

The Port of Indiana Burns-Harbor has extended its partnership with its longtime stevedore and marine terminal operating company, Federal Marine Terminals.A press note from the Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority operating three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, said that the deal will run through at least 2023."FMT has been a vital collaborator with the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor since 1999," said Port Director Ian Hirt, "and this consolidated operating agreement underscores FMT's commitment to the greater northwest Indiana and Chicago markets."FMT has been handling cargoes in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and along the East and Gulf coasts since 1960.

Metal Shark announced it has secured a contract to build three 120’ x 35’ river towboats for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT), signalling the U.S. shipbuilder’s entry into the towboat market.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboats were designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc. and will be powered by twin Cat 3512C Tier 3 marine diesel engines rated at 1,911 HP each. Construction is underway at Metal Shark Alabama, with deliveries commencing in 2019.With the FMT contract…

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor completed a landmark year in 2017 and is poised for significant future growth as a result of several historic developments. In addition to handling an 8 percent increase in cargo shipments in 2017, the port doubled the size of its bulk terminal, attracted a nationally-renowned stevedore in Metro Ports, handled its most valuable cargo ever, and announced a $20 million expansion made possible by earning one of only 10 "FASTLANE" small project grants awarded in the U.S. last year.

Horizon Shipbuilding announced it will reorganize amid revenues insufficient for maintaining normal operations. Lance C. “Last year, Travis R. Short, President of Horizon Shipbuilding saw an opportunity to repeat a great construction performance from 2012. Namely, an unheard of quantity of vessels in a very short period of time starting from ground zero. Hornblower (HNY Ferries) offered just this type of opportunity through its NYC Ferry project and Horizon has achieved what most believed couldn’t be done.

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…

In June 2016 Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Ala. delivered the M/V Marty Cullinan, a 120’ towboat with a retractable pilot house, to its home port of New Orleans, La. This is the latest delivery of many to Florida Marine Transporters by Horizon and one of the first vessels to fully incorporate Horizon’s GORDHEAD management software. Jeff Brumfield, Sr., Manager of Boat Construction and Engineering for FMT, commented, “We are thoroughly pleased with the boat, and when I talk to the Marty Cullinan crew they are quick to note that she is smooth and very quiet. Travis Short, President of Horizon Shipbuilding, said, “We have worked hard to build one of the best boats on the river and we consider ourselves fortunate to have teamed with FMT and John J. Gilbert to do this.

Federal Marine Terminals (FMT) has announced $3.7 million in investments, including $1.7 million for a new crane, $1.3 million in new forklifts, and $700,000 in other equipment and gear for seven of its 12 terminals. According to FMT, these investments will enable the group to make strides in production while reducing emissions. The new crane, a Kobelco CK2750G model, to be delivered this summer to the company’s terminal in the Port of Cleveland, will feature a Tier 4 Final engine, the newest generation of motors for this type of equipment, and is expected to achieve 90 percent reduction of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions when compared with the Tier 3 engines.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced it has delivered the 62nd 90-foot inland towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing new build program. The new vessel, M/V Harvey Sbisa (Hull 192), was delivered on November 30, 2015. It was in the Spring of this year, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to 65 vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past 12 months.

Gulf Island Marine Fabricators has recently delivered a new drydock named the J.B. Barthelemy to FMT Shipyard and Repair. The new drydock, which is 180 feet long and 73 feet wide with 63-foot clearance between the wingwalls, seven-foot deep pontoon with 18-foot high wing walls, has a 2,400-short-ton capacity and will be located at FMT Shipyard and Repair yard on the Harvey Canal. The drydock has a 225 kilowatt genset provided by Kennedy Engine, eight eight-inch ABS submersible…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Rena Marie (Hull 191), the 61st 90-foot inland towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing new build program. Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an order for additional towboats earlier this year, bringing the total vessels contracted over the last 10 years to 65. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to FMT occurred over the past 12 months. Delivered July 9, 2015, Rena Marie was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced it has delivered another 80-foot inland river towboat, the M/V Michael Akiu #86, to Florida Marine Transporters. Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La. The 2,100 horsepower M/V Michael Akiu #86 is the final vessel for FMT as part of a order for three 80’ X 33’ X 10’-6” twin propeller towboats awarded to the a Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard in 2013. The Project Manager for the construction of the M/V Michael Akiu #86, Mike Sims, has delivered the three 80-foot vessels on-time.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced the delivery of another 80’ Inland River Towboat, the M/V Chip Stiebing, to Florida Marine Transporters (FMT) of Mandeville, La. Delivered in March 2015, this is the second 80’ towboat of the three vessel contract with FMT. Horizon, a Bayou La Batre, Alabama shipyard has delivered several 140’ and 120’ inland river towboats over the eight-year relationship with FMT. The project manager for the construction of the M/V Chip Stiebing, Mike Sims, has now delivered two of the three 80’ vessels on-time.