Walter E Blessey Jr News

Following on the success of the Dreama Klaiber, launched in late 1999, Blessey Marine’s latest boat is an evolution of that concept. While the Dreama dimensions are 95x30x12.6, the new boat will be 110 x 32 x 11.5-feet. This allows for the same power with a shallower draft. The new boat will also be powered by a pair of 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3200 hp (2,388 kW) for continuous duty at 1800 RPM. the engines are equipped with Cummins’ optional CENTRY electronic engine control systems and drive through Reintjes WAF 772 marine gears with a reduction of 7:1 turning 88- x 68-inch four-blade stainless steel propellers on eight-inch diameter shafts. The vessel is equipped with four flanking and two steering rudders, as are all of Blessey's towboats.

The design challenge for towboats in the new Millennium is they are being called upon to do tougher jobs on the water but at the same time have be more environmentally friendly to the water on which they sail. Also, many of today's towboats are light years ahead of their predecessors of just a few years ago in crew amenities and berthing spaces. "Much of the new technology we are seeing on towboats is because of new IMO, EPA, OSHA and ABS regulations," said Terry Boffone, president of Progressive Barge Line, Westwego, La. Progressive's business is mid-streaming fueling, so careful delivery of the products they carry such as diesel fuel and gasoline from the tank barge to the ship is critical.

Kody Marine of Harvey, La. began construction of a push boat for Blessy Marine. "It will be similar to the Dreama Klaiber and the Walter E. Blessey Jr." says Blessey's Mitch Jones, "With the same propulsion package and four deck layout, but it is longer and wider." The progression in size has been evolutionary. The Dreama, launched in late 1999, is 95 x 30 x 12.5 ft. and the Walter, launched in mid-2002, is longer and wider at 110 x 32 x 11.5 ft. Now the new boat will add still more to the dimensions to become 120 ft. long with a 34-ft. beam and a 12.5-ft. molded depth. Jones explains that the additional beam gives the boat a shallower draft while the increased length gives improved performance.

Kody Marine of Harvey, La. began construction of a powerful push boat for Blessy Marine. "It will be similar to the Dreama Klaiber and the Walter E. The progression in size has been evolutionary. The Dreama, launched in late 1999, is 95x30x12.6 feet and the Walter, launched in mid-2002, is longer and wider at 110 x 32 x 11.5 feet. Now the new boat will add still more to the dimensions to become 120 feet long with a 34-foot beam and a 12.5-foot molded depth. Jones explains that the additional beam gives the boat a shallower draft while the increased length gives improved performance. All three vessels are built with the same proven main engine package of a pair of 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50 M2 engines, delivering a total of 3200 hp (2,388 kW) for continuous duty at 1800 RPM.