Latham Smith News

When business depends on commercial vessels, it's essential for these boats to stay in good condition. Unreliable engines and equipment can lead to days or weeks off the water for repairs, resulting in lost customers. To ensure its fleet is always prepared for the job, Smith Maritime depends on Laborde Products. For its third repower with Smith Maritime, Laborde supplied three Mitsubishi S12R-Y2MPTK Tier II engines rated at 5,000 hp for the tug Rhea. For its maiden voyage, Rhea towed a huge piece of oilfield equipment from Texas to Cape Verde Islands off of Africa before moving on to Nigeria.

An expert in ocean and coastal towing, Smith Maritime, needed dependable diesel power when its 90 ft Elsbeth III was in need of repowering prior to towing the 520 ft USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg to the Florida Keys. The Vandenberg was sunk six miles offshore, becoming Florida's largest artificial reef. The company turned to Laborde Products, who had previously supplied Smith Maritime with Mitsubishi heavy-duty marine propulsion engines and ordered three new 1,180 hp Mitsubishi S12R-Y1MPTA engines. "We're 100% satisfied with these engines," said Capt. Latham Smith, Smith Maritime founder.

Smith Maritime was contracted by a Nigerian company to deliver a 200' lift boat for oil field maintenance. Smith Maritime selected the 5,000 hp tug Rhea and 400' barge Atlanta Bridge for the voyage. The barge was equipped with pumps to allow for controlled sinking and recovery in order to float the lift boat on and off. But they ran into a hitch. Shortly before departing, Smith Maritime discovered the African port was unable to furnish power for the pumps. Within hours Smith Maritime received delivery of a 60 kW Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT, formerly Iveco) diesel generator from Laborde.

For over 20 years, the Elsbeth II, a 110-ft. Smith Maritime tugboat, has done extensive deep sea towing and delivered military vessels around the world. When it came time for Smith Maritime owner Captain Latham Smith to replace one of Elsbeth II's three engines, he relied on a Gulf Coast distributor for help. Laborde provided the perfect fit for Elsbeth II - a Mitsubishi heavy-duty marine engine. "My new Mitsubishi engine performance far exceeds my expectations," said Capt. Smith. A 6,000 hp ocean tug with a shallow draft and triple screws, the Elsbeth II needed the Mitsubishi S16R-Y1MPTA engine from Laborde to complement its heavy-duty design and operations. At 1,600 rpm, the engine provides 1,568 hp. "I love Mitsubishi's simple design and power," said Smith.

After the earlier sale of the U.S. tank barges "B No. 120" and "B No. Inc. additional large tank barges and three ocean-going tugs. in West Africa. scattered across North and Central America and obtaining U.S. Administration approval for sales of the U.S. abroad. The 143', 3,280BHP twin screw tug "Mr. Seattle. "Mr. Inc. of Port Arthur, Texas. twin 96" x 54" fixed pitch props in 1964. for many years in the U.S. Gulf Coast "oil patch". a number of years. operations. renamed "Mnemosyne"). respectively and retired in January 2005 due to OPA'90 regulations. While in U.S. petroleum service with a capacity of abt. 95,581bbl. ballast, using the U.S. both built in 1987 and owned by Capt. Green Cove Springs, Florida. 5,100BHP and 72 tons of bollard pull. Marine through Marcon.