Bayou La Batre, Ala.-based Raymond & Associates recently delivered a 76'×35'×11' inland pushboat to Harahan, La.-based Blessey Marine Services. The 1,700-hp Erin C Grenon, which has a maximum draft of 8'6", was designed by Sterling Marine, Gulf Breeze, Fla.
“This is a good, all-around Gulf Coast boat. It’s the 18th 1,700-horsepower boat we’ve built,” said Blessey president Clark A. Todd. “It will run from Florida over to Brownsville, Texas.”
Main propulsion comes from a pair of Cummins K38M-II diesels, producing 850 hp each. The mains connect to 76"×59", 4-bladed Kahlenberg stainless steel props through Reintjes WAF474 marine gears with 7.1:1 reduction ratios.
Two Cummins QSB7DM gensets, putting out 85 kW of electrical power each, provide the ship’s service power.
The steel, four-deck pushboat features an electro-hydraulic steering system supplied by Gulf Coast Air & Hydraulics, Bayou La Batre, Ala.
Tankage includes 30,000 gals. of fuel and 10,000 gals. potable water.
Todd talked about the growing number of vessels being built for the inland waterways. “Even though this particular boat won’t be involved in it, the main driver behind the new equipment building is the drilling for petroleum in shale,” he said.
The Erin C. Grenon will push chemical barges along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
Some of the boat’s other features include a Hiller fire suppression system, BRME alarm and monitor, Blue Box recording system, and Simms monitoring system. The towboat has accommodations for a crew of six.
The new pushboat was delivered in May 2014. “We’ll have a sistership coming out in August,” said Todd.
— Ken Hocke
