Eastern Shipbuilding Group delivered the 3,000-hp towboat Rena Marie on July 9 to Florida Marine Transporters. Its the 61st 90’ inland towboat delivered to Mandeville, La.-based FMT over the last 10 years.
In the spring, FMT signed an option, bringing the total to 65 vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to FMT occurred over the past year. The Rena Marie was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates Inc., Boston.
The FMT contract for the 90’ towboats originally began with a 25-vessel contract, with deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single builder, single owner, new construction program with the same class towboat design in U.S. history, according to Eastern.
The vessels recently delivered to FMT have EPA Tier 3 main propulsion engines and generators. The Rena Marie is powered by two Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1,500 hp at 1,600 rpm provided by Louisiana Power Systems. The reduction gears are direct coupled Twin-Disc MG-5600 with a 6.04:1 reduction ratios supplied by Stewart Supply Inc., Harvey, La. Electrical power is provided by two 99-kW John Deere 4045AFM85 Tier 3 generator engines rated for 60 Hz, at 208 VAC provided by Kennedy Engine Company Inc., Biloxi, Miss. The engines comply with the current EPA Tier 3/MARPOL control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines.
