Horizon Shipbuilding Inc., Houma, La., has delivered another 80’, 2,100-hp towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, Mandeville, La. It's the third 80’ towboat of a three-vessel contract with FMT.
The vessel, the Michael Akiu #86, is named after Michael Akiu, an employee of FMT who played wide receiver for the NFL's Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans).
Horizon, based in Bayou La Batre, Ala., has delivered several 140’and 120’ inland river towboats over the past eight years to FMT.
The contract for the three 80’x33’x10’6” twin propeller towboats was awarded to Horizon in 2013. The Michael Akiu #86 works on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and inland rivers.
The towboat is powered by two Caterpillar 3508C diesels, each rated at 1,050 hp at 1,600 rpm. The reduction gears are Twin Disc MG 540. Three John Deere 4045 99-kW, 208-volt AC, 60-Hz, diesel generators provide ship's service power.
