River Towboat News

A missing retaining ring and mounting bracket on the port main diesel engine led to an engine-room fire on a towing vessel near Belleview, Ky., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.Florida Marine Transporters' (FMT) towing vessel Capt. Kirby Dupuis was pushing loaded dry cargo barges on the Ohio River when a fire broke out on its portside engine on November 9, 2021. The crewmembers fought the fire using portable extinguishers and attempted to activate the vessel’s fixed fire-extinguishing system. The fire was eventually extinguished by local firefighters.

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc.The vessel’s twin Cat 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2…

Diesel electric propulsion is a concept that uses an electrical power generation plant to deliver power to the propulsion unit. Case studies show reductions in fuel and maintenance costs with such systems. Those improvements can be further enhanced by the addition of an energy storage system to the vessel.This case study provides a cost benefit analysis of an energy storage system for a vessel owner using a real-world operational profile and case study. It is not a deep dive into all of the aspects and details of an energy storage system.

In the 29 years that towboat captain Joe Gray has worked flotillas of barges up and down the Ohio River, he has witnessed the decline at the heart of industrial America in what is known as the country's Rust Belt. Gray, 46, spends up to eight months a year doing 28-day stints on the barges carrying coal, corn and gravel between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cairo, Illinois. Some 600 million tons of goods still flow each year along 25,000 miles of U.S. waterways. But he has seen a growing number of coal-fired power plants being dismantled, from Indiana to West Virginia, and says barges loaded with coal have dwindled in the face of cheaper natural gas and tougher environmental regulations.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced it has delivered another 80-foot inland river towboat, the M/V Michael Akiu #86, to Florida Marine Transporters. Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La. The 2,100 horsepower M/V Michael Akiu #86 is the final vessel for FMT as part of a order for three 80’ X 33’ X 10’-6” twin propeller towboats awarded to the a Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard in 2013. The Project Manager for the construction of the M/V Michael Akiu #86, Mike Sims, has delivered the three 80-foot vessels on-time.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced the delivery of another 80’ Inland River Towboat, the M/V Chip Stiebing, to Florida Marine Transporters (FMT) of Mandeville, La. Delivered in March 2015, this is the second 80’ towboat of the three vessel contract with FMT. Horizon, a Bayou La Batre, Alabama shipyard has delivered several 140’ and 120’ inland river towboats over the eight-year relationship with FMT. The project manager for the construction of the M/V Chip Stiebing, Mike Sims, has now delivered two of the three 80’ vessels on-time.

Master Marine, Inc. delivered its first 2,000 hp Z Drive inland river towboat last month. The towboat represents the first vessel (Entech Design) of this series by the yard. Master Marine said it has not been as active in the past years building towboats as the other yards in the area. However, in the last two years, Master Marine has made some personnel changes along with additional investments to reenter this market. mastermarineinc.com

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, AL, has delivered the fourth in a series of 74’ towboats to Canal Barge Company, Inc. of New Orleans, LA. The Jane Merrick is 74’ long with a 32’6” beam and an 8’6” draft. Designed by Marine Design, Inc. of Gulf Breeze, Florida, the vessel is capable of pushing fully loaded fuel barges at 10 knots. Its 2000 horsepower is provided by Cummins K38M, tier II 12 cylinder marine propulsion engines, and drives 74” Kahlenberg propellers through Reintjes WAF 562 reduction gears. There are comfortable accommodations for six personnel plus the Captain.

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (GIFI) informs that through its subsidiary Gulf Island Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., it has signed a contract for the fabrication of two 8,000 bhp twin screw diesel-engined river towboats. Revenue backlog and man-hours associated with this project will be reported in connection with the Company’s announcement of financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2014. GIFI adds that the contract includes an option (expires March 15, 2015) for a third 8,000 bhp towboat that would be included in backlog upon exercise of the option, should the customer elect to do so. Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., based in Houston…

SEACOR Holdings Announces Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2012. SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012. Net income attributable to SEACOR Holdings Inc. for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 was $11.2 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, including a net loss from discontinued operations of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, net income attributable to SEACOR Holdings Inc. was $47.7 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, including net income from discontinued operations of $19.0 million, or $0.92 per diluted share. On March 16…

Bayou La Batre, Alabama - Horizon Shipbuilding Inc. has delivered the M/V General Irwin, an inland river towboat, to the Army Corps of Engineers in Eufala, Alabama. The General Irwin is equipped with two steering rudders and four flanking rudders, and is powered by two Caterpillar diesel engines, providing 770 horsepower to her 48-inch propellers. Her hull speed when towing is four knots; her full speed is eight knots. The vessel was christened on March 30 during a ceremony in Eufala featuring Army Corps of Engineers leadership…

The Mississippi River and other inland rivers of the United States are home to several thousand towboats. They are vital carriers of goods and materials, and an important element within the country's overall transportation system. Current and future environmental restrictions on emissions are creating the need for a new “greener” design for these vessels. Wärtsilä and Ship Architects, Inc., USA, are cooperating to develop a new environmentally sound towboat concept. Ship Architects, Inc. is a company that specializes in providing shipyards and owners with technical solutions in conceptual and detailed vessel design, project management, and other associated services.

While Z-Drive can still be considered a "revolutionary" design trait of today's tugboats, engineers aren't resting on their laurels. New technical standards being introduced are testimony to designers' creativity and imagination; and the functionality is improved, as well. The use of tugs with either Z-drive or VSP propulsion have led to much faster, safer and more efficient ship-assist operations, without fail, says Robert Allan, of the marine engineering firm, Robert Allan Ltd. In fact, he adds, some tug companies with Z-drive tugs have had insurance premiums lowered because of the reduced risk of them damaging an attended ship with better tugs. But in no way have tugs evolved to their highest achievable level. The birth of such innovative designs was not unexpected, says Allan.

The USACE has put 59 ft. inland river towboat Davenport, built by Marine Builders, Utica, Ind., to work on the Upper Mississippi River system. The new steel-hulled vessel was designed by the USACE Marine Design Center, and is equipped with a galley and crew's quarters with accommodations for four. Davenport's primary duties include pushing rock barges and derrick boats, working year-round on the Mississippi River between Lock and Dam 10 and Lock and Dam 22, the Illinois River and connecting tributaries. It will operate out of the USACE's Rock Island District service base at LeClaire, Iowa. Propulsion is provided by two Cat 3406C marine diesels, rated 380 bhp at 1,800 rpm, turning Bird Johnson 48 x 34.6 in. wheels, through Twin Disc MG-516 4:1 gears.

The USACE has put 59 ft. inland river towboat Davenport, built by Marine Builders, Utica, Ind., to work on the Upper Mississippi River system. The new steel-hulled vessel was designed by the USACE Marine Design Center, and is equipped with a galley and crew's quarters with accommodations for four. Davenport's primary duties include pushing rock barges and derrick boats, working year-round on the Mississippi River between Lock and Dam 10 and Lock and Dam 22, the Illinois River and connecting tributaries. It will operate out of the USACE's Rock Island District service base at LeClaire, Iowa. Propulsion is provided by two Cat 3406C marine diesels, rated 380 bhp at 1,800 rpm, turning Bird Johnson 48 x 34.6 in. wheels, through Twin Disc MG-516 4:1 gears.

The USACE received a new tool for dam construction, repair and bank revetment work -59 ft. inland river towboat Davenport. Constructed by Marine Builders, Utica, Ind., the vessel entered service on the Upper Mississippi River system in December. The steel-hulled vessel was designed by the USACE's Marine Design Center, and is equipped with a galley and crew's quarters with accommodations for four. Davenport's duties include pushing rock barges and derrick boats, working year-round on the Mississippi River between Lock and Dam 10 and Lock and Dam 22, the Illinois River and connecting tributaries. With propulsion provided by two CAT 3406C marine diesels rated 380-bhp at 1,800-rpm, which turn Bird Johnson 48 x 34.6-in.

Launched in 1972, Marine Builders Inc. has remained a model of consistency, churning out a healthy mix of towboats and - more recently - passenger vessels, each year of its existence. Beginning with Quarto 1, launched back in 1971, towboat construction has always been the company's bread and butter, but the company has built drydocks, dredges, cruise vessels, barges; and has even formed a new sister company which builds pedestrian bridges over waterways. Company President and Owner David W. Evanczyk began his boat-building career in the 1960's with Yates Marine Construction, in Wheeling, W.V. Evanczyk moved to the Louisville area at the request of Jack Yates, with the intent to form a new shipyard company in the area.