Main Iron Works 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…

Ingram Marine Group this week held a christening ceremony in New Orleans for Steve Alley, the fifth new towboat in the series of 10 ordered by the Nashville-based operator.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter M-compliant towboat was designed by Ingram Marine Group, Louisiana shipbuilder Main Iron Works, and naval architect Ashraf Degedy, PE.The 78-foot-long, 32-foot-wide newbuild is outfitted with twin Caterpillar Marine tier 3 diesel engines and Reintjes gearboxes, John Deere generators, and 76-inch Michigan special propellers.

Luling, La. based marine towage provider Bisso Towboat said it has ordered a new tractor tug from Houma, La. shipbuilder Main Iron Works. Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2022 with delivery in early 2024, Bisso revealed in an announcement.The 5,000 BHP ASD tug will feature two Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4F main propulsion engines generating 2,500 BHP each at 1,600 RPM. The engines will drive a pair of Kongsberg US205S azimuthing thrusters with 2,400 mm diameter stainless steel propellers in stainless steel nozzles. Estimated bollard pull will be 66 tons.Other onboard equipment will include a JonRie Series 240 escort winch, Caterpillar C4.4 118 KW generator sets and a full complement of safety, monitoring and electronic equipment, Bisso said.

On June 24, Ingram Marine Group held a special christening ceremony for four vessels: M/V Capt. Roy Daniels, M/V Randy Hooper, M/V Debbie L. Owen and M/V Harold B. Warren. The M/V Debbie L. Owen and M/V Capt. Roy Daniels are new builds. The M/V Randy Hooper and M/V Harold B. Warren are refurbished vessels.“The people we are honoring today are a testament to the kind of company we’ve worked hard to build. They really represent the ‘Ingram Way’ which is why it is so fitting to christen some of our vessels in their honor…

Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.

On Wednesday, August 4, Campbell Transportation Company, Inc. christened the secondhand towboat Marci Gale in downtown Pittsburgh.Formerly named the Elizabeth Lane, the Marci Gale was purchased by Campbell in the spring of 2021 from Canal Barge. Upon acquisition, the Marci Gale underwent an extensive overhaul and rehabilitation process at Main Iron Works Shipyard in Houma, La. During this shipyard period, both main engines were completely refurbished along with the interior of the vessel. Numerous other upgrades were done throughout the boat to increase the life and performance of the vessel.The Marci Gale has entered service for Campbell and is operating along the entire Ohio River working the company’s Third-Party Towing Service.

U.S.-based inland waterways shipping company Ingram Marine Group on Wednesday held a ceremony to christen the Adrienne M. Moore and honor of the soon-to-be-completed Tom Cornwell. The sister towboats are the first of 10 vessels that Cenac Marine and Main Iron are under contract to build for Ingram Marine.The twin-screw 78’x32’x10’ vessels are designed by Main Iron Works, Ingram Marine Group and Ashraf Degedy PE. Each is powered by Caterpillar C32 Tier 3 rated main engines (Adrienne M.

Luling, La.-based Bisso Towboat said it has signed an agreement with Houma, La. shipbuilder Main Iron Works to begin construction of a new 6,008 BHP azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tractor tug. Construction is scheduled to commence in August 2020 with delivery expected in early fall of 2021.The EPA Tier 4 compliant tug will feature two Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4F main propulsion engines generating 3,004 BHP each at 1800 RPM. The engines will drive two Schottel SRP 460 FP azimuth thrusters with 98.4″ diameter stainless steel propellers in stainless steel nozzles.

Marcon International has announced to report the recent sales of the following two U.S. flag tugs as sellers continue to upgrade their fleets.The U.S. flag, 4,800 HP twin screw, flush-deck, articulated pusher tug “Java Sea” has been sold by Kirby Offshore Marine of Houston, Texas to private buyers. The tug was originally built by the well-respected Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana as the “Patriot” (Hull 360) - a 3,000 HP, EMD 12-645E6 powered, conventional twin screw tug with a raised 49.3’ height of eye pilothouse.

Kirby Inland Marine selected Furuno as the electronics of choice for its new generation of Subchapter M towboats. The first of three new vessels, MV Bailey, will soon enter service into the Kirby fleet of over 300 towboats and nearly 1,000 inland barges operating in U.S. waters. The bridge features Furuno electronics including Radar, GPS, AIS, depth sensors and more. This 88-ft.towboat was built at the Main Iron Works facility in Houma, LA, and has been designed from the keel…

Cenac Marine Services LLC has announced the signing of an agreement with Kirby Inland Marine, LP to acquire Cenac’s fleet.This relationship will continue to enhance Cenac’s marine construction operations, by focusing on its best in class shipyard at Main Iron Works while providing continued security for its loyal maritime employees., even amid continued sluggishness in the local oil and gas industry.Kirby Corporation transports bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River system…

Cenac Marine Services and its dynamic, third generation leader, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr., continue to flourish, in good times and bad. Through it all, leadership, philanthropy and investments that extend far beyond the company’s gates have made all the difference.As this year quickly churns to its inevitable close, Cenac Marine Services isn’t the nation’s biggest towboat operation, but its profound impact on the people and environment of the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond is unquestionable. At a time when most operators are happy to simply strive for an environmentally correct and regulatory compliant business signature, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr.

Houma, La. shipbuilder Main Iron Works has secured contracts to build four inland push boats for Kirby Inland Marine. The four 2680 BHP twin propeller conventional towboats will measure 88’x35’x12’2” and will join Kirby’s inland towboat fleet for the transportation of a variety of petrochemicals, refined products, oils and liquid fertilizers. Work on the new vessels is already underway, with completion dates scheduled between August and December 2018.

In September of 2006, Dominique Smith of the then one tug company Tradewinds Towing came to Laborde Products, to look at the S12R engine for the repower of the Miss Lis, an Alaskan built low profile tug he planned on repowering. Later that same month, the deal was made, and shortly thereafter, the Miss Lis set sail with new Mitsubishi engines and Reintjes transmissions supplied by Laborde Products. Since then, the engines have logged over 30,000 hours travelling throughout North, Central and South America.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington informed the sale of the 1,700BHP “Benjamin Foss” by Foss Maritime Company of Seattle, Washington to private U.S. interests. The 78.0’ x 26.3’ x 11.0’ depth x 9.7’ draft, tug was built in 1980 by Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana as Hull 352 - the first in a series of seven “Super D” class, advanced, medium size tugs contracted in 1979. The low-profile tugs were built for PacTow, a Dillingham Maritime Company, and Foss Maritime, also a subsidiary of Dillingham in the 1980s, as a larger, enhanced version of the popular 1,200HP, 66’ “D” class boats built in the mid-1960s. After delivery from the shipyard, “Benjamin Foss” remained in the U.S.

Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr. is a third-generation owner of Cenac Towing Company. The firm, originally founded in 1927 by his grandfather, now does business as Cenac Marine Services. Benny has led the company since 1981 through several industry downturns by focusing on customer service, efficiency, quality and safety in its marine transportation services. Cenac Towing has clients across the country and maintains a focus on transporting liquid petroleum barges. Cenac is guided by the values and principles established by Benny’s grandfather over 85 years ago: a commitment to employee satisfaction and great company morale. As a leader in the community…

Cenac Towing Company (Cenac Towing), a third-generation owned global marine transportation company, announced continued growth despite the oil and gas industry’s downturn. Recently, Cenac Towing acquired Main Iron Works, a tug construction company, and this week, Cenac Towing will christen its brand new 2000 Hp Twin Screw Conventional Tug, The Jean Pierre Cenac. The innovative marine transportation company, run by industry veteran Arlen “Benny” Cenac, attributes the growth to continued innovation, quality service and the unique familial culture that is experienced not only by employees but also by customers and partners. “The importance of hospitality in everyday life is too often overlooked.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported the sale of the U.S. flag, twin screw tug “Pacific Patriot” (ex-Pacific King) from Kirby Marine Offshore to U.S. West Coast buyers on private terms. This was the 300th tug brokered by Marcon and 1,351st sale or charter since the sale of the vintage and some would say very “classic” 1950s built, 135’ supply boat “Low Tide” from Tidewater in the early 1980s. Built in 1980 by Main Iron Works in Bayou Blue, Louisiana, the 1,700BHP “Pacific Patriot” measures 77’ x 26.5’ x 11’ depth of hull and is powered by twin CAT D398SCACs driving fixed pitch propellers in kort nozzles, developing a bollard pull of 26.4 tons and free running speed of 12kn.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported that the 5,570BHP tug Jabbar has been sold by Awal Marine Services of Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain to TradeWinds Towing LLC of Saint Augustine, Florida. Jabbar, meaning “powerful” or “tremendous” in Arabic, was originally built by Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana as their Hull 335 for McAllister Towing & Transportation of New York. The twin screw tug was operated by International Tug Service, a joint venture company between McAllister and Arabian American Oil Co. Ltd.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. announced the upcoming retirement of its Vice President Central Division, Larry Vauclin. Vauclin’s retirement was announced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, who said, “Larry has been a critical part of the growth of Bollinger over the past 16 years, and a mentor to many in the shipyard industry over his 52 year career. His attention to detail, hard work and focus on client satisfaction have helped create a solid foundation for us going forward.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. announce the upcoming retirement of its Vice President Central Division, Larry Vauclin. Vauclin’s retirement was announced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, who said, "Larry has been a critical part of the growth of Bollinger over the past 16 years, and a mentor to many in the shipyard industry over his 52 year career. His attention to detail, hard work and focus on client satisfaction have helped create a solid foundation for us going forward.

The classic Four Preps song says that it is 26 miles or 40 kilometers to Santa Catalina from the California mainland. Others say it is only 20 or 22 miles but regardless of the distance the tugs of the Connolly-Pacific Company, a Subsidiary of Knife River Corp., make regular crossings of the channel with barge loads of aggregate from a quarry on the island to construction firms on the mainland. They supply their own marine construction requirements as well as marketing rock products in the Los Angeles to San Diego area.

Bisso Towboat Co., Inc. announced the delivery of its new 4,000 HP ASD tractor tug Michael S. Constructed at Main Iron Works, Houma, LA, the 100 by 38 by 13.5-ft Michael S. is powered by two Cat 3516B main engines, producing 2,000 hp each at 1,600 RPM, which drive two Ulstein-Aquamaster US205 MK2 z-drives. The Z-drives feature 90.6 inch diameter by 82.4 inch pitch four blade stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles and the estimated bollard pull is 60 tons. Electrical service is provided by a pair of 99 KW Marathon Mariner generators powered by John Deere 6068TFM76 engines. Deck equipment includes a Markey DYSF-42 hydraulic bow winch equipped with 500 ft of eight inch circumference Plasma line and a Washington Chain and Supply RSRH100 100-ton quick release tow hook.