Updating the Pusher Design
The medium sized pusher towboat is a stable of the U.S. Inland waterways marine transport. Built to work comfortably in the confines of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway they must also have enough power to handle the distances and currents of the Mississippi. Recently some owners have built tugs to updated deigns. Kirby Marine has had a series of boats built at Raymond and Associates LLC shipyard in Bayou LaBatre Alabama. Florida Marine also had a series of new towboats built. These continue to be delivered from Eastern Shipbuilding.
Kirby Launches First In New Series
Following on the success of its 90 x 35-ft. series of towboats, Kirby Marine has taken delivery of the first in a new series of 76 x 35-ft. boats. Building at the Raymond and Associates LLC shipyard in Bayou LaBatr, Ala., the Capt. Bill English, is the first of four currently under construction with the possibility of eight more to follow. Although shorter than the earlier series, these boats retain the robust beam of their cousins. Mark Davis, Kirby’s representative at the shipyard explained that it is important to the firm to retain crews. “The extra beam lets us make the boats a little nicer and then we add internet access and flat screen TV with surround sound for the crew,” he said. In the engine room the new towboats continue the use of Cummins engines.