John Gilbert News

Eastern Shipbuilding’s forward-thinking inland towboat design now features CAT Tier 4 propulsion and aftertreatment. When Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) introduced its cutting edge 4,000 hp Thunderbolt inland towboat designed around twin azimuthing AAA Propulsion electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology back in 2015, the approach was collaborative, with input from operators, naval architects (Gilbert Associates, Inc. (GAI)) and propulsion OEM’s. In selecting the podded propulsion system for inclusion on the design, Eastern met with two inland owner/operators that had Z-Drive towboats, and others that didn’t. Starting as far back as 2013, listening to each and noting their concerns, it was decided that the V-Pod was the best solution.

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…

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.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Alabama, has delivered the seventh 140’ towboat for Florida Marine Transporters (FMT). The vessel is named for FMT’s long-time Captain Phillip Box. The M/V Capt. Phillip Box was launched in April, 2014 at Horizon’s Bayou La Batre facility using its 600 metric ton TraveLift. This TraveLift is one of the largest on the Gulf Coast and allows for efficient launch of new vessels as well as quick repair projects. FMT’s latest towboat was designed by John Gilbert and is 140’ long by 42’ wide, with a 9’-6” draft.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Ala. said it signed of a contract with long-time customer Florida Marine Transporters to build one 80’ towboat, with two option vessels. Horizon said that FMT has been a customer for nearly seven years, and FMT’s continued business is largely responsible for its success and ability to expand capacities and capabilities. Jeff Brumfield, FMT’s New Construction Manager, created the design and has worked along with John Gilbert and Associates to bring the design to reality.

Both Milestones Met In Same Week. Horizon Shipbuilding has delivered the fourth in a series of 120’ Towboats to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, LA. The M/V Dale Artigue joins her sister ships, M/V’s Capt. W. D. Nunley, Capt. Kirby Dupuis and Brees in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States. “Like the other towboats we have built, the Artigue adds to FMT’s stable of workhorses,” said Ben Forrest, Horizon Project Manager. “The workmanship that our guys put into this boat is easily recognizable.

Bayou La Batre, August, 2011 - Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, AL, has delivered the third in a series of 120’ Towboats to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, LA. The M/V Brees joins her sister ships, M/V’s Capt. W. D. Nunley and Capt. Kirby Dupuis in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States. “This boat is a true workhorse,” said Ben Forrest, Project Manager for the M/V Brees. “There were some challenges that we had to overcome during production because of the larger propulsion package but our guys really stepped up.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has delivered the M/V Capt. Kirby Dupuis to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, La. She joins her sister ship, the M/V Capt. W. D. Nunley in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States. The M/V Capt. Kirby Dupuis, designed by John Gilbert, is a 120 ft long by 35 ft wide, 10 ft draft, towboat vessel that is four-decked and is outfitted for service in areas restricted to overhead clearances and draft limitations.

John (Jack) William Gilbert, PE, U.S. Navy Lieutenant, USNR, a world-renowned Naval Architect and Marine Engineer and President of John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts, died at the age of 80 years on July 26, 2010. Gilbert was born in Silver Creek, N.Y., on November 1, 1929, and was a resident of North Scituate, Mass., for more than 48 years. He graduated with a B.S.Nam. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1955. Gilbert founded John W. Gilbert Associates…

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has launched the third of five 140-ft towboats for Florida Marine Transporters (FMT). The M/V Rusty Zeller was launched on February 28, 2010 at Horizon Shipbuilding’s Bayou La Batre facility using their 600 metric ton TraveLift. This TravelLift is the largest on the Gulf Coast and allows for efficient launch of new vessels. It also facilitates lift and relaunch in a matter of hours instead of days, which results in quick turnaround for the repair of existing vessels up to 200 ft in length and 50 ft beam.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has met a major corporate milestone by delivering the M/V John Grimsley #59 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 and the M/V Isla San Luis on Tuesday, October 13, 2009. The M/V John Grimsley #59 designed by John Gilbert, is a 140-ft long by 42-ft wide, 9.2-ft draft, towboat vessel that is four-decked and is outfitted for service in areas restricted to overhead clearances and draft limitations. She is powered by two EMD 710 12 CYL engines driving 99” propellers through Nico MGN 5023Z gearboxes. There are two Cummins generators to support ship’s power.