Guascor Engines Make Serious Inroads

Guascor Inc, a manufacturer of diesel and gas engines, power systems and marine reduction gears based in Northern Spain and distributed throughout the Southeastern United States by Reagan Equipment Company, Inc. has accumulated a number of interesting references in the past six months, installations that should go a long way in extending the brand to users throughout the country. For the Louisiana Department of Transportation's Ferry Division, Guascor supplied a pair of SF 180 TAs for the repower and repair of the 30-year-old ferryboat, M/V Acadia. M/V Acadia has a busy work life, crossing the Mississippi River at State Route 75 in Plaquemine, LA, every half-hour, 16 hours a day, seven days a week carrying up to 35 cars per trip. Last summer it was decided to repower the boat, and Leevac Industries and Reagan Equipment Company Inc., Marine Division in Plaquemine, LA, was chosen for the task. The six-cylinder in-line SF 180TA diesels are rated at 581 hp at 1,800 rpm. The ferry was re-delivered to the State of Louisiana in October 2002.

Another interesting challenge for the Guascor power products was the repowering of Lebeouf Bros. Towing's M/V Creole Pass, a 39-year-old twin-screw towboat, which needed to come in under new environmental emission guidelines. Chosen for this task was a pair of SF240 TAs, engines rated 750 hp at 1,800 rpm. The 66 x 22 ft. boat with an eight-ft. draft is now engaged in heavy oil trade in the lower Mississippi and Intercoastal Waterways, reportedly running at peak efficiency with its new Guascor units.

LeBeouf is a particularly interesting reference, as it is one of the oldest marine companies operating on the inland waterway systems, having been formed in the early 1940's. The company today operates 22 towboats and forty 46 barges, including 33 double skin barges.

For Progressive Barge Line of Westwego, La., a pair of Guascor SF240 TAs were specified for the newbuild towboat M/V Freedom. The engine pair produces 1,548 hp for M/V Freedom, a vessel built by LaForce Shipyard Inc. The boat measures 74 x 28 x 11 ft. with an 8.5 ft. draft, and was christened about one year ago. The Guascor engines are coupled to Twin Disc gears driving Sound Propellers. Progressive also enjoyed the benefits of repowering with Guascor, as it needed to replace an engine in M/V Gizmo earlier this year and opted for a six cylinder, 581 hp Guascor. Progressive specializes in shipside bunkers in the port of New Orleans, with eight double skinned barges ranging from 9,434 barrels to 30,000 barrels. They also operate six boats ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 hp.