Louisiana Power Systems News

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.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Bill Seymour (Hull 190), the 60th 90’ Inland Towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing newbuild program. It was in early January 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to 63 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 Bill Seymour was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc.

During the 2014/2015 Holiday Season, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. Inc. of Mandeville, LA. for its ongoing new build program. Also, Florida Marine signed a contract for the 63rd vessel (Hull 193), an additional 90’ Inland Towboat. It was in early January 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed this additional towboat, bringing the total to sixty-three (63) vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Four (4) of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past ten months. The M/V TY DOLESE is the 59th Vessel delivered in this ongoing series of now sixty-three (63) vessels. This recently signed vessel, Hull 193 will be constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announce that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. exercised another additional 90’x32’x10’ “Canal Class” Inland Towboat to the six-vessel program currently under contract. In September 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the seventh vessel and this additional towboat brings the total to 62 vessels contracted. Three of the now seven towboats have been delivered to Florida Marine since February 2014. This option vessel will be constructed from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, LA exercised another additional 90’x32’x10’ “Canal Class” Inland Towboat to the six (6) vessel program currently under contract. In September 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the 7th vessel and this additional towboat brings the total to sixty-two (62) vessels contracted. Three (3) of the now seven (7) towboats have been delivered to Florida Marine since February 2014. This option vessel will be constructed from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA. This series of towboats originally began with a twenty-five (25) vessel contract with on-time deliveries starting in 2006.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. exercised one additional 90’x32’x10’ Canal Class Inland Towboat to the five vessel program currently under contract. On August 5, 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the sixth vessel and with this additional towboat brings the total to sixty-one (61) vessels contracted. This option vessel adds one more towboat that will be constructed from the design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. says it has delivered the tugboat M/V JAMES DALE ROBIN to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, LA. and not long before that christened and launched the Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) M/V BRAVANTE VIII for Boldini S.A., BRAVANTE GROUP of Brazil. In 2013 Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. exercised more options for five additional 90’x32’x10’ Inland Towboats. In February 2014, the first of the five option towboats, the M/V CAPT. TROY J. HOTARD, the 56th Towboat built by Eastern, was delivered to Florida Marine. This ongoing series of towboats originally began with a twenty-five vessel contract with on-time deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single towboat build contract in history.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the delivery of the M/V Capt. Troy J. Hotard (Hull 186) to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 the 56th Inland Towboat constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding was delivered to Florida Marine. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced on January 23, 2013, that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. had exercised more options for up to five additional 90’x32’x10’ Inland Towboats. In December of 2012, the M/V Blake Boyd, the 55th Towboat built by Eastern, was delivered to Florida Marine.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is announced that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. exercised an additional four 90’x32’x10’ Canal Class Inland Towboats. On January 23, 2013, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the 56th vessel that is currently under construction and with these additional four towboats brings the total to 60 vessels contracted. This ongoing option contract adds four more towboats that will be constructed from a common design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass. This series of towboats originally began with a 25 vessel contract with on-time deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single builder new construction program of the same class towboat design in United States history.

The offshore supply vessel market remains as competitive as ever, with companies attempting to lure customers with the best possible value for their day rates and other appealing offers. Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc., Mandeville, La., found a simple answer to stay ahead of the competition: build a well-designed fleet and equip it with the best technology you can afford. "It's that simple," says Carl Annessa, Hornbeck vice president of operations. "Customers want to contract boats that get the job done for the best value. Hornbeck Offshore owns a fleet of seven offshore supply vessels (OSVs) that are contracted to oil companies for oil exploration and production services, as well as drill rig support in deep water.

Thoma-Sea Boatbuilders Inc., Houma, La., launched the first of two new 150-ft. offshore supply vessels (OSVs) it is building for Massie Towing of Houma. The vessels were designed by Frank Basil of Intech & Associates, also of Houma. The first vessel, M1, entered service in mid-June, and the second vessel is scheduled to launch in December 2000. Massie will operate both vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Propulsion power for the two new OSVs comes from twin Cat 3508EUI marine engines, each rated 905 bhp (675 bkW) at 1,600 rpm. The electronic unit injected 3508s drive Bird Johnson 72 x 59 in. propellers through Twin Disc 5:1 gears, providing a service speed of 14 knots.

Every year, MarineNews chooses a handful of vessels delivered in the past 12 months and bestows upon them the distinction of “Great Boats.” The boats are chosen for innovations in design, construction and utilization. Following are the 17 vessels or groups of vessels chosen as the Great Boats of 2000. Crowley Marine Services delivered Alert, Attentive, and Aware, a series of three 140-ft., 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska. Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, the boats will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed in February; Attentive was delivered in June, and Aware was delivered in July.