Atowboat christening ceremony held Jan. 14 in Channelview, Texas, marked the beginning of a new era for Blessey Marine Services Inc., Harahan, La. The vessel that was celebrated, the 2,600-hp Capt. Daniel Armstrong, is the first EPA Tier 4 towboat in the company’s 85-vessel fleet.
The 84'6"x32'x11', twin-screw towboat was designed and built by Vessel Repair Inc., Port Arthur, Texas. It is powered by twin 1,260-hp Mitsubishi S12R engines supplied and supported by Laborde Products. It is also equipped with a 99-kW John Deere 4045AFM85 auxiliary generator supplied by Marine Systems Inc.
The vessel is part of a four-boat newbuild series that includes a pair of jack-up wheelhouse vessels and two conventional towboats, according to Clark Todd, president and CEO of Blessey Marine Services.
“The previous vessels that we built this past year and a half, two years, were all vessels that we had previously laid keels for and [that] we had previously purchased engine packages [for],” Todd said. “Once we exhausted our keels and our engine packages, obviously, we were forced to build a Tier 4 vessel.”
“[The Capt. Daniel Armstrong,] with its new Tier 4 engine package, will reduce carbon emissions and our footprint. We’re glad to be a part of the Tier 4 community and doing what we can to limit our emissions on these vessels,” Todd said. “It’s a huge milestone for our company, and I think for our industry to continue to build these more environmentally friendly boats.”
The new towboat joins the Blessey fleet as the company expands into the Houston bunkering business, Todd said. The Capt. Daniel will replace one of two vessels on the Mississippi River that were restationed to pair with two new 30,000-bbl. bunker barges built by Arcosa in Ashland City, Tenn.
The Capt. Daniel features 8" shafts from R.C. Schmidt & Sons Inc., Thordon TG 100 seals and Rivertough bearings, 4-bladed 85"x60" wheels from Baumann Propellers LLC, Reintjes WAF 665 reduction gears supplied by Karl Senner LLC, a Sim Vue engine alarm from Baton Rouge Marine Electric, and an electric-hydraulic steering system from Custom Hydraulics.
Fendering was supplied by M&M Bumper Service LLC, Seahorse Manufacturing supplied the wastewater treatment system, and Christie & Gray provided engine vibration isolators. The boat’s Hempel paint was provided by Coating Systems Inc. On deck are two winches and a capstan.
Electronics and communications equipment was provided by Raymarine Inc. and Wood River Electronics. They include Raymarine Pathfinder radars; Furuno AIS, satellite compass, depth sounder; and Standard Horizon VHF radio.
Tankage includes 15,077 gals. of fuel, 377 gals. lube oil, 1,571 gals. diesel exhaust fluid, and 3,105 gals. potable water.
The towboat is named in honor of Capt. Daniel Armstrong, who addressed the crowd during the christening ceremony and affectionately described the vessel as “The Beast of the Waterways,” referencing both its power and presence on the river.
“We are always thrilled to name a vessel after one of our great captains, and Daniel Armstrong has grown with us from the deck all the way up to the wheelhouse.” Todd said. “Anytime we name a vessel after an employee, it’s a very special moment. And frankly, I’d say half of our fleet is probably named after employees.”
