Marine Chartering Associates is seeking to take advantage of rising demand for bulk transportation on North American waterways by ordering two towboats for 2020 delivery
It has contracted Master Marine to construct a 20.5-m towboat to US Coast Guard Subchapter M standards, with an option to build a second vessel at its shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama to Entech Designs’ naval architecture.
Master Marine and Marine Chartering Associates chose Laborde Products to provide the propulsion. The first of these towboats is scheduled for delivery in Q3 2020. The second would likely enter service in 2021 if the option is taken up.
Each towboat will have total propulsion power of 1,200 kW from a pair of Mitsubishi S6R2-Y3MPTAW main engines that will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emissions requirements. These will produce 600 kW at 1,400 rpm, will be coupled to Twin Disc 5321 gears and drive a pair of HS Marine Propulsion four-blade stainless-steel propellers through J&S Machine Works propeller shafts with Thordon bearings, Thorplas bushings and shaft seals.
Devall Diesel Services is providing electrical power with two John Deere 4045 65-kW Tier 3 electronic-controlled generators.
Main engines, gears and generators on these towboats will be cooled by RW Fernstrum keel coolers. Their steering systems will incorporate two main steering rudders and four flanking rudders.
Schuyler Maritime will provide rubber fendering around the perimeter of the vessel and push knees, while Byrne Rice and Turner will provide two Nabrico 40-7HE 40-tonne deck winches.
Also in the US, Delta Launch Services has ordered a new pilot boat from Duclos Corp subsidiary Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding.
Delta Launch Services is the operating company for the Associated Branch pilots on the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi.
This 15.9-m pilot boat is scheduled for delivery in July 2020. It is similar in design to pilot boat Assistant, delivered in 2018.
This new St. John’s Class launch will have an aluminium Deep-V hull, designed by Ray Hunt Designs and be powered by two Caterpillar C-18 EPA Tier 3 diesel engines, each delivering 500 kW of power at 2,100 rpm, providing this vessel a top speed of 24 knots. Twin Disc MG5136A gears will turn five-bladed Brunton bronze propellers.
This vessel will be equipped with a 12-kW Northern Lights generator set and six Llebroc pilot seats.
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