Pierre Part News

A 65-mile (105-km) stretch of the lower Mississippi River, including the Port of New Orleans, remained closed on Sunday night while crews cleaned up oil that spilled when a barge was hit by another vessel, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The collision happened on Saturday afternoon near Vacherie, Louisiana, about 52 miles (84 km) west of New Orleans, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough. The Lindsay Ann Erickson, which was pushing grain barges, collided with a barge carrying barrels of light crude oil pushed by the Hannah C. Settoon, which caused oil to go into the river, according to Colclough. No injuries were reported, and the source of the oil has been secured, the Coast Guard said.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Finishes Up 2011 With Another 96 ft. Towboat Delivery for Settoon Towing, LLC., the JAMES J PERERA. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce another on-time delivery for the third 2,600 HP Canal Class Inland Towboat, the JAMES J. PERERA, for Settoon Towing, LLC., of Pierre Part, LA. This towboat is the third in a series of a four vessel contract with Settoon, another repeat customer for Eastern Shipbuilding Group. The towboat measures 96’ X 34’ x 10’ and is identical to the two previously built boats at ESG currently in their fleet; the AUSTIN C SETTOON and the PARKER A SETTOON. The propulsion system consists of two (2) Caterpillar 3512C electronic marine diesel engines EPA Tier II…

In the vessel construction market, small boat builder All American Marine of Bellingham, Wash., and RIB builder Wing Inflatables of Arcata, Calif. both reported a satisfactory 2010 in their niche markets, with good reasons to be optimistic about 2011. Bollinger Shipyards, a major builder in the offshore market also had a good 2010, but is bracing for the impact of the drilling moratorium going into 2011. Meanwhile, new yard, Argosy Boat Company, of Pierre Part, La., is still working to establish itself as a diesel-electric, Z-drive towboat builder.