Louisiana Cat News

A new tugboat is slated to enter service for Bisso Towboat this Spring.The Luling, La. based marine towage provider has been working with Main Iron Works to update its fleet, replacing a conventional tug with a tractor tug about every 18 months. In late 2022, the Houma, La. shipbuilder began building a new tractor tug Mr. Brian—the sixth azimuth stern drive (ASD) tractor tug built by Main Iron Works for Bisso in the past eight years.Named after Bisso’s vice president of operations Brian Cyprowski…

Jeffersonville, Ind. based American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) on Tuesday announced it has signed a contract with Belle Chasse, La. shipyard C&C Marine and Repair to build a 11,000 horsepower (HP) class towboat.Designed by Portland, Maine-based CT Marine, the twin-screw towboat will measure 198 feet long, with 50-foot beam and 12-foot depth. With accommodations for a crew of up to 12, the vessel incorporates a floating, spring-mounted superstructure for additional onboard comfort.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered of the M/V Jaden Pasentine (Hull 200). The 70th 90’x 32’x 10’ Inland Towboat built by Eastern for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA. In 2018, Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed four more additional towboats, bringing the total to seventy (70) vessels contracted over the last 14 years. The M/V Jaden Pasentine  was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility and designed by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.The M/V Jaden Pasentine  for Florida Marine is powered by two (2) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered the M/V Brian Boudreaux (Hull 198). It is also the first new construction USCG Sub-M towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA.It was in early 2018, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed four more additional towboats, bringing the total to seventy (70) vessels contracted over the last 14 years. The M/V Brian Boudreaux was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.

East Boothbay, Maine based Washburn & Doughty said it has secured a contract with Harbor Docking and Towing, of Lake Charles, La., to design and build two 93’ x 38’ Hybrid Z Drive Tugs. The 93’ x 38’ hull is a proven design with 18 tugs in operation and 4 under construction. The vessel will be built as a Harbor Assist Vessel as defined in USCG Subchapter M and admeasure less than 200 gross tons U.S. regulatory tonnage. Caterpillar Marine will provide a ‘stem-to-stern’ Cat content hybrid propulsion system, with support from both Milton Cat and Louisiana Cat in the sales effort. The hybrid propulsion system scope includes 3512E (2,550 HP @ 1…

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and General Product Support Manager Troy Matherne of Louisiana Machinery Company announced the company will add 60 jobs and expand its New Iberia operations. Known as Louisiana Cat, the company rebuilds and services engines and related equipment for marine, oil and gas, industrial and utility companies at the Port of Iberia. Louisiana Cat’s expansion calls for the addition of 60 new direct jobs over the next five years, with the jobs carrying an average annual salary of $60,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project also will result in 28 new indirect jobs, for a total of 88 new jobs in Iberia Parish, Acadiana and the surrounding regions. A total of 130 existing jobs at the Iberia Parish company will be retained.

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.

Erika Hamrick, Cat Marine Regional Sales Manager Americas officially recognizes Robert “Bobby” Webb, CEO at Louisiana Cat as the first Cat Propulsion Dealer in the Americas (left) Official document signing at the Reserve, La headquarters by Erika Hamrick and Bobby Webb. An official signing of the Cat Propulsion Dealer Agreement with Louisiana Cat commenced on August 22, 2016. Louisiana Cat has become the first Caterpillar Dealership in the Americas to reach all requirements for training and technical sales and support to become a Gold level dealer for the full line of Cat Propulsion equipment.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Lawrence Campbell (Hull 193) on April 12, 2016, the 63rd 90-foot inland towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing newbuild program. It was in early 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC 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.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has launched the second of two 302’x76’x26’ multipurpose service vessels in the HOSMPSV 310ES series for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC., the shipbuilder announced. The new vessel, HOS Woodland (Hull 242), was launched at Eastern’s Allanton facility on Friday, June 19 at an event with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests in attendance. HOS Woodland is the second ship to be christened on Eastern’s newly constructed 425’ rocker beam system installed on the northeast corner of Allanton’s 760’ launch basin.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the HOS Warland (Hull 241) on Friday March 6, 2015 for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS Warland is Eastern’s first of two 302’x76’x26’ multipurpose service vessels (MPSV) launched with the Hornbeck designation HOSMPSV 310ES. The second vessel, the HOS Woodland (Hull 242), will launch this summer. The launching event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests in attendance. The HOS Warland…

The Resource Power Group appointed Chimas Sylve as Spare Parts Coordinator at its new Deer Park facility near the Houston Ship Channel. “Chimas brings with him knowledge of not only the MaK engine line, but also MaK gas engines as well as the entire Caterpillar engine line,” said Mike Kriner, Branch Manager for the Houston facility. “Our Houston facility is less than a year old, but is already growing rapidly both in medium speed engine and turbocharger services,” said Mike. Previously Mr. Sylve spent nine years at the parent company, Louisiana Cat, where he provided both parts and service support for the Caterpillar line of engines including the MaK gas and diesel products.

Resource Power Group (RPG) has appointed Sean Carey as the engine sales & service company’s General Manager of the MaK and large bore engine business for the southeast US and the Caribbean territories. Carey is a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy who previously was employed as a Service Sales Manager for Wartsila North America, Inc. “With Sean’s leadership, RPG will quickly become a preferred equipment and services supplier for MaK engines and other large bore diesel and natural gas engines to customers in the US and the Caribbean” said Robert Webb, President of Louisiana CAT, RPG’s parent company. RPG has appointed Juan Carlos Perez as Operations Manager for it’s Miami operations. Mr.