Master Marine, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has delivered another in its series of Z-drive towboats for Marquette Transportation Co. In September, Master Marine delivered the 78’x34’x11’, 2,000-hp St. James to Marquette’s Gulf-Inland Division based in Harahan, La.
The steel-hulled St. James was designed by Entech Designs, Kenner, La., and is powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 Tier 3 engines rated at 1,000 hp each at 1,800 rpm. The Cats were supplied by Thompson Power Systems. The engines are connected to ZF Marine ZF AT 5111WM-FP Z-drives with 1,650 mm (65") 4-bladed propellers in nozzles.
The package gives the boat a running speed of 10 knots with a loaded draft of 8’. Ship’s service power comes from a pair of John Deere 4045AFM85 Tier 3 generator-drive engines from Kennedy Engine, each driving an 80-kW Marathon Mariner generator. Cooling for all engines and Z-drives is provided by Duraweld coolers from Eastpark Radiator.
Doors and windows were provided by Dale’s Welding & Fabrication LLC. Rubber bumper systems were provided by Schuyler Companies. Electronics were provided by New World Electronics, and Rio Marine supplied the alarms and monitoring systems. To secure barge tows, there’s a pair of Patterson 40-ton deck winches supplied by Donovan Marine.
Tankage includes 24,000 gals. fuel; 6,550 gals. potable water; and 17,560 gals. ballast water.
Master Marine is building more Z-drive towboats including more for Marquette. Master Marine president Randy Orr said that this work has allowed the company to expand its workforce and production capacity.
