Kerry Neuville News

Laborde now has the ability to supply builders on the US Gulf Coast with the complete line of Yanmar 360-1,822 hp commercial engines for export. Laborde recently supplied six Yanmar 6CX-GTYE engines to Neuville Boat Works for crewboats headed for Trinidad. Inland and Offshore Contractors Ltd., a diversified transportation company serving the petroleum industry, will take delivery of three 47' boats to carry crew and cargo to offshore installations. The fully mechanical Yanmars were chosen for their reliability and durability and because they can be easily serviced in the West Indies.

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…

Steve Miguez is adding a fourth crew boat to his Iberia Crewboats fleet. Like the Mr. Blake, Mr. Ridge and Lady Glenda that he already operates, the Lady Marie is being built across the road from his New Iberia home at the Neuville Boat Works. This is the thirteenth boat that Steve has had built at the yard since he started in the business as a 21-year-old in 1975. Like the last one that he had built there, it is 150 ft. over all with a 28-ft. beam. Tankage and most other aspects of the new vessel are the same. The major departure from earlier vessel is to be found in the engine room. The earlier boat was powered by five of Cummins six-cylinder KTA19 M4 engines rated at 700 hp each for a total of 3,500 hp.

Colin Black addressing the guests at the new vessel's commissioning. The Colin B. McCall, named for noted mechanical engineer Colin Black, is a 160 by 30 ft. crew boat with an aft deck that is 91.5 by 24.75 ft. that can carry 280 long tons with about 7,000 gallons of fuel on board. Seating is provided for a total of 68 passengers with 52 of those in business class seats. Main propulsion is provided by four Cummins KTA38 M2 engines delivering 1,350 hp each in a Heavy Duty rating at 1,950 rpm for a total of 5,400 hp.

The Colin B. McCall, named for noted mechanical engineer Colin Black, is a 160 by 30 ft. crew boat with an aft deck that is 91.5 by 24.8 ft. that can carry 280 long tons with about 7,000 gallons of fuel on board. Seating is provided for a total of 68 passengers with 52 of those in business class seats. Main propulsion is provided by four Cummins KTA38 M2 engines delivering 1,350 hp each in a Heavy Duty rating at 1,950 rpm for a total of 5,400 hp. A Thrustmaster 75 hp electric over hydraulic bow thruster is installed in a 24-in. tunnel. Electrical service is provided by two Cummins-powered 99 kW generator sets. The vessel's U.S gross registered tonnage in under 100 tons while the International Gross tonnage is under 400 tons. It is built to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T/L and ABS load line.

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.

Kerry Neuville recently built an 18-ft. aluminum skiff with his son and now parks it in the same shed where he and his brother started their boatbuilding careers. Across the yard from the little shed Neuville Boatworks huge building sheds bustle with their usual activity. With a 154 x 30 x 12.5-ft. crew boat (160-foot overall) nearing completion for Steve Miguez’s Iberia Crewboats and scheduled for a March delivery. A sister-ship is being framed up on an inverted jig in one of the other building sheds. Both vessels will be powered by four Cummins KTA38 M2 engines provide power for the vessel. Each engine produces 1350 hp at 1950 RPM into Twin Disc MG-6650 gears with 2.47:1 reduction. The 5400 hp crewboats will achieve speeds of 26 knots.