Hope Services’ 72-ft. Pushboats are a Higman Standard

Hope Services of Dulac, La., have built two more of their popular 72 x 30-ft. pushboats. These two, the eighteenth and nineteenth to the design, are for Higman Towing of Houston, Texas. The first was delivered last May and the second is currently undergoing sea trials for an early August delivery. Each boat is powered by a pair of 12-cylinder Cummins KTA38 M0 engines rated for 850 hp at 1,800 rpm. The engines turn into Twin Disc 540 gears with 6.14:1 reduction. The 73 x 58-in. four-blade stainless propellers are mounted on six-in. stainless shafts. Electrical needs are met by a pair of Cummins 6B series powered 50 kW gen sets. Accommodation on the 1,700 hp tugs is provided for six people in three staterooms with additional space utilized for a washer and dryer. With a molded depth of 10 ft., the hull holds tankage for 20,000 gallons of fuel, 10,000 gallons of potable water and 10,000 gallons of fresh water as well as ballast tanks. Steering and flanking rudders are controlled through an ESI electric controlled hydraulic system. The air engine controls are by Kobelt. A pair of Nabrico electric-over-hydraulic 40 ton deck winches handle the 1.25-in. face wires. Hope services have begun cutting steel for the twentieth vessel in this series and are currently in negotiation on its sale. Cecil Specifications Name Cecil Type Push Boat Builder Hope Services Owner Higman Towing Dimensions 72 x 30 x 10 ft. Main engines Cummins KTA 38 MO Power 850 hp @ 1,800 rpm Gears Twin Disc Gen sets Cummins Steering controls Kobelt Winches Nabrico Capacities (gallons) Fuel 20,000 Potable water 10,000 Fresh water 10,000