Mandeville, La.-based Florida Marine Transporters has exercised an option to add one 90'x32'x10' Canal-class inland towboat to the five-vessel program currently underway at Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla. The vessel will be constructed from the design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Boston.
Each towboat will have two Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1,500 hp at 1,600 rpm provided by Louisiana Power Systems. The direct-coupled Twin-Disc MG-5600 reduction gears with a 6.04:1 reduction gears are being supplied by Sewart Supply, Harvey, La. Electrical power is provided by two 99-kW John Deere 4045AFM85 99KW Tier 3 generator sets rated for 60 Hz, at 208 VAC provided by Biloxi, Miss.-based Kennedy Engine Co. These diesel engines comply with the current EPA/MARPOL control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines.
This series of towboats originally began with a 25-vessel contract that began in 2006. It has expanded to become what the companies say is the largest single towboat design/build contract in history.
