Rodriguez Towboat For Mid-River

Over the years, Rodriguez triple-screw shallow-draft towboats have won a following in the shallow waters of the Mississippi River estuary. Many of these boats are the distinctive aft-cabin Lugger-type of vessel.

Recently Mid-River Terminals of Osceola, Ark. has taken delivery of a new design towboat from Rodriguez. With a conventional forward-house pusher configuration, the new 70- by 30-foot MV Dianna Lynn utilizes the same propulsion as the Lugger tugs. This is composed of three in-line six-cylinder Cummins QSK19 engines, each delivering 660 HP. Each engine turns a 66-inch stainless steel propeller through ZF gears with 6:1 reduction. The combination gives the 1,980 HP-towboat an eight-foot operating draft. 

The wheelhouse has a full 360-degree view with large windows and is set atop two accommodation decks and a half deck that also serves for bridge electronics support. This gives the towboat a 31-foot eye-level, with full tanks, for working high barges. Steering and flanking rudders are controlled by wheelhouse levers with mechanical shafts through the houses and connected to the hydraulic actuator valves in the upper engine room. A set of push knees and deck winches with cheek blocks facilitates barge work. A pair of 55 kW gensets meets the boat’s electrical requirements.

Zero discharge tanks, built integral to the hull, provide storage for treated sewage and all drains. A separate tank handles waste oil.

The MV Dianna Lynn is the fourth boat in the Mid-River Terminal fleet, all of which are Cummins powered. Owner Rick Ellis said, “We wanted the three engines for redundancy so that even if we lose an engine we still have over 1,200 horsepower.”

The new boat will be primarily involved in fleeting and harbor work.