New Towboat Gets a Complete Thordon Propulsion Package
A 1,600-horsepower towboat delivered to Harvey, La.-based operator L&L Marine Transportation in June is now operational with a full range of Thordon oil-free and grease-free bearings.Designed by Entech, the 65-foot twin-screw towboat Amelia Ray is purpose-built by Rodriquez Shipbuilding in Coden, Ala. for the transportation of petrochemicals along all inland and coastal waters in the southern states of the U.S.In addition to newest towboat addition, L&L Marine operates the 2,000-horsepower Melissa Lee and three 1,200-horsepower vessels Angela Rae, Myrna Ann and Madeleine Michelle.
Scania USA Taps Laborde Products as Gulf Coast and Inland Distributor
Engine manufacturer Scania USA said it has appointed Laborde Products as its new distributor for Scania Marine products for the Gulf Coast and inland waterways regions, effective November 1.The Covington, La. headquartered engine and power systems distributor will take on sales, service and dealer development for Scania marine engines, ranging from 220 to 1,150 horsepower, for Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Southern Ohio…
Five Minutes with George Whittier, CEO, Fairbanks Morse
Fairbanks Morse recently won an order by Huntington Ingalls Industries to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines that will power the U.S. Navy’s newest Landing Platform/Dock (LPD) ship, LPD 31, the second of 13 in the LPD Flight II class of ships. We caught up with George Whittier, CEO, for his insights on this contract, COVID-19 and business overall.How long have you been at the helm at Fairbanks Morse?I returned to Fairbanks Morse in January where I previously served as CEO from 2009 to 2012.
Rolls-Royce to Boost Output for the US Navy
Rolls-Royce and the Defense Production Act Title III office will invest millions of dollars to upgrade the company’s capability and capacity for U.S. Navy ship propulsion components in its facility in Pascagoula, Miss.The DPA Title III office has already agreed to invest $22 million for equipment, with Rolls-Royce making an additional investment for building improvements, supplemented with support from Jackson County and the state of Mississippi.Naval components manufactured by Rolls-Royce at Pascagoula include controllable-pitch propeller systems, fixed pitch propellers, and water jets.
ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore Upgrades 'Signet Warhorse II' Propulsion
Mississippi-based ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore has recently won a contract to retrofit new propulsion and maneuvering systems on an ocean towing tug, Signet Warhorse II, for Signet Maritime Corporation.The scope of work included removing existing shafts and fixed-pitched propellers to be replaced with Controllable Pitch Propellers consisting of shaft bearings and shafts. Auxiliary components including the oil distribution box and feedback unit were integrated into the machinery space.The existing bow tunnel thruster was replaced with a retractable azimuth thruster.
NOx Control: Should Certain Vessels Get a Break?
When it comes to the EPA’s recent proposed delay to implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines ‘in certain high-speed commercial vessels,’ where you stand probably depends on where you sit.On September 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA) proposed to delay implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines “in certain high-speed commercial vessels.” Specifically; EPA mentions three kinds of vessels: lobster boats, pilot boats and a third, more open-ended reference to “other high-speed vessels,” possibly including hovercraft.
Caterpillar Supplies Engines for Tier 4 Tug
Caterpillar Marine has supplied two Cat 3516E Tier 4 main engines to the Andrew S. The EPA Tier 4 Final and Subchapter M azimuth stern drive (ASD) tractor tug was delivered to Bisso Towboat Co.Each engine generates 3,004 bhp at 1,800 rpm and a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system. At 6,008 bhp, Andrew S. is the most powerful Tier 4 tug on the Mississippi River.The Andrew S. measures 100’ x 38’ x 13.5’ and has an estimated bollard pull of 84 tons. Additional features of the tug include U.S.
GE Marine Turbines Power USS CINCINNATI
GE Marine’s LM2500 gas turbines now power the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS CINCINNATI (LCS 20), which was commissioned into the United States Navy’s fleet on October 5 in Gulfport, Mississippi. “GE’s skilled and diverse workforce built the LM2500 marine gas turbines used to power this sophisticated surface combatant at GE Aviation’s manufacturing facility in Evendale, Ohio, a few minutes-drive from downtown Cincinnati,” said GE’s Kris Shepherd, Vice President, General Manager, Marine Operations.
VT Halter, Q-LNG Name First LNG ATB
VT Halter Marine, Inc., a ST Engineering North America company, held a vessel naming ceremony for America’s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit.The Q-LNG 4000 (barge) and the Q-Ocean Services (tug) were officially named in a ceremony that included U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, along with Shane Guidry, CEO of Q-LNG, and Tom Vecchiolla, President and CEO of ST Engineering North America.Over the last four years…
Belle Chasse Marine Repowers with Volvo Penta
Reliability, Power, Fuel Savings and Minimal Downtime Key Factors in Repower Decision.Belle Chasse Marine Transportation, the largest launch service on the Lower Mississippi, puts a lot of hours on its fleet of crew and supply boats, which run day and night. One thing they can’t afford is downtime.“The river never closes, and neither do we. Our customers expect us to give them reliable round-the-clock service no matter what the conditions,” said Dillon Entrekin, port engineer at Belle Chasse.
ARG, Sea Ready Enter Marine Lube Deal
American Refining Group Inc. (ARG) announced its new partnership with veteran-owned small business Sea Ready Marine Petroleum, as ARG has designated Sea Ready as its global distributor of its refinery’s marine lubricants.Already the largest zinc-free (ZF) railroad-engine oil supplier east of the Mississippi River, ARG is taking its marine line of Specialty Lubricants to sea. The full line includes formulations customers have relied upon and trusted for decades, particularly its…
VT Halter Wins Historic $746m CG Contract
VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, MS has emerged the victor in one of the most prized and coveted shipbuilding contracts in recent memory, a $746m deal to build the Coast Guard's lead Polar Security Cutter. If two additional ship options are exercised, the total deal could approach $2B.The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, through an Integrated Program Office (IPO), awarded VT Halter Marine Inc., of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a fixed price incentive (firm) contract for the Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) of the Coast Guard’s lead Polar Security Cutter (PSC).
YANMAR America’s Commercial Marine Division Adds Three Repower Centers
YANMAR America’s Commercial Marine Division has announce the addition of three new Repower Centers to its distribution network: Kennedy Engine in Biloxi, Mississippi; Sun Power Diesel in Dania Beach, FL and Todomar in Colombia.“YANMAR is looking to add local market experts to our distribution network. Kennedy Engine, Sun Power and Todomar are a good match due to their regional knowledge of applications and customers in terms of needs and expectations,” commented Terry Wallace…
Three Generations Backed by Four Mitsubishi Engines
The female dynasty of Vidalia Dock and Storage are no strangers to the Murky Mississippi, nor the advantage of a Mitsubishi powered vessel. When it came to repowering the Sonny J., Vidalia Dock knew right where to go.Purchased in early 2018, the vessel was fitted with a pair of 600HP Cummins K19 engines. With the goal of EPA Tier compliance and engine reliability, Laborde Products provided two fully mechanical Mitsubishi S6R-Y3MPTAW Tier III engines for the 65x24 vessel; these engines are rated 684HP @1800RPM each with Twin Disc 7:1 transmissions.
Interview: Volvo Penta's Ron Huibers
As Volvo Penta continues its strategic penetration of the commercial maritime sector, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News checks in with Ron Huibers, President, Volvo Penta of the Americas. When we first met with you a few years ago, Volvo Penta was in the early stages of a strategic move into the commercial maritime sector in North America. Please update your progress. Historically, we have been strong in the marine commercial markets outside of North America. Five years ago…
Thordon to Eqip New Class of Towboat
Thordon Bearings, of Burlington, Ont., has received an order to supply four comprehensive shipsets of stern gear for a new class of towboat.The four boats are being built by U.S. shipyard Master Marine of Bayou La Batre, Ala., for Waterfront Services, based in of Cairo, Ill.. The new vessels have been designed to meet the requirements of Subchapter M, a set of federal rules recently introduced by the U.S. Coast Guard, relating to the inspection requirement for towboats, including seaworthiness standards and safety protocols.The 67ft x 28ft boats…
Maritime to Get Biggest Bang for VW Settlement Bucks
Imagine a settlement over falsifying emission levels in another transportation sector dropping money onto your deck. Who knew? But it’s true. The $2.9 billion settlement fund Volkswagen agreed to capitalize for distribution across all 50 states, tribal lands and Puerto Rico, as a result of “dieselgate,” its criminal dodging of required auto emission levels, presents an unparalleled opportunity to maritime companies that want to move their noxious diesel engines up a couple of EPA notches, and stick someone else with close to half the bill or more.
Canal Barge Orders Becker Flap Rudder Retrofit
The U.S. office of Becker Marine Systems announced the order for a retrofit of another set of Becker Flap Rudders placed by the Canal Barge Company, Inc. Canal Barge Company is a family-owned, independent marine transportation company headquartered in New Orleans. Chosen for retrofit is the 140-ft. boat Eugenie P. Jones, built in 1975 by the Dravo Corporation. She is a sister vessel of the Susan L. Flap Rudders since June of 2014. Canal Barge Company also has one more set of Becker Flap Rudders on order for a third sister boat.