John Bludworth Shipyard News

Enterprise Marine Services, a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P., is making a major commitment to Z-Drives for the US inland waterways. They currently have four Z-Drive boats in service and have taken delivery of two new Z-Drive vessels from Sneed Shipbuilding in Texas with three more under construction. The new vessels, named Sheridan A and Terry H, were built by Sneed Shipbuilding, Inc., Channelview, TX. They measure 87 x 34 x 11.5 ft. and have a 34.8-in. eye level. They are powered with a pair of 1,000 hp. Cummins QSK 38M, Tier III, diesels coupled to Z-Drives from ZF Marine.

Enterprise Marine Services, a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P., is making a major commitment to Z-Drives for the U.S. inland waterways. They currently have four Z-Drive boats in service and have taken delivery of two new Z-Drive vessels from Sneed Shipbuilding in Texas with three more under construction. The new vessels, named Sheridan A and Terry H, were built by Sneed Shipbuilding, Inc., Channelview, Texas. They measure 87 by 34 by 11.5 feet and have a 34-foot 10-inch eye level. They are powered with a pair of 1,000 hp.

Following on the success of the Dreama Klaiber, launched in late 1999, Blessey Marine’s latest boat is an evolution of that concept. While the Dreama dimensions are 95x30x12.6, the new boat will be 110 x 32 x 11.5-feet. This allows for the same power with a shallower draft. The new boat will also be powered by a pair of 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3200 hp (2,388 kW) for continuous duty at 1800 RPM. the engines are equipped with Cummins’ optional CENTRY electronic engine control systems and drive through Reintjes WAF 772 marine gears with a reduction of 7:1 turning 88- x 68-inch four-blade stainless steel propellers on eight-inch diameter shafts. The vessel is equipped with four flanking and two steering rudders, as are all of Blessey's towboats.

The design challenge for towboats in the new Millennium is they are being called upon to do tougher jobs on the water but at the same time have be more environmentally friendly to the water on which they sail. Also, many of today's towboats are light years ahead of their predecessors of just a few years ago in crew amenities and berthing spaces. "Much of the new technology we are seeing on towboats is because of new IMO, EPA, OSHA and ABS regulations," said Terry Boffone, president of Progressive Barge Line, Westwego, La. Progressive's business is mid-streaming fueling, so careful delivery of the products they carry such as diesel fuel and gasoline from the tank barge to the ship is critical.

This June will see Blessey Marine add yet another push boat to its ever growing fleet. The latest addition will be delivered from the John Bludworth Shipyard in Corpus Christie, Texas. To be named Dane F. Morgan, the new boat, has been built to a design by John L. Bludworth, III. Like a number of others in the Blessey fleet, the towboat will be powered by a pair of V12-cylinder Cummins KTA38 M0 main engines. Each of these 38-liter (2,300-cu. in.) engines deliver 850 hp at 1,800 rpm. The engines will turn into Twin Disc MG540 6:1 gears to turn 74 x 52-in. stainless steel four-blade "Dominator Type" propellers from Sound Propeller Service, Inc. Ship's service power will be provided by a pair of 75 kW Onan Gensets powered by Cummins 6BT5.6(D)M engines. The boat is equipped with air controls.