LAD repowers inland vessel with Mitsubishi Tier 3 engines

LAD Services of Louisiana has repowered the M/V Miss Sophia Claire at its Morgan City, La., shipyard, replacing the inland vessel’s main engines with a pair of mechanical Mitsubishi Tier 3 diesels supplied by Laborde Products.

The project gives the vessel 1,100 hp from two Mitsubishi S6A3-Y3 main engines, each rated at 543 hp at 1,840 rpm.

For LAD, the repower was focused less on adding complexity than on matching the propulsion package to the vessel’s operating profile and keeping the installation practical for day-to-day inland service.

The work was carried out at LAD Services’ own facility, allowing the vessel owner and shipyard to manage the project directly while coordinating with Laborde on engine application.

“This was about getting the boat set up right and keeping it practical,” said David “DJ” Clements, repair superintendent at LAD Services of Louisiana. “The goal was equipment that fits the vessel, is easy to work on, and supports the kind of service this boat sees.”

The companies said the propulsion package was selected to provide reliable performance and support continued inland operations without unnecessary complexity.

Laborde Products said the Mitsubishi S6A3 platform was chosen in part because of its familiarity among inland operators and maintenance crews.

“A big part of this repower was choosing equipment crews are already comfortable with,” said Bradley Matte, Gulf Coast territory sales manager at Laborde Products. “The S6A3 is a mechanical Mitsubishi platform that’s well known on the waterways and easy to support in day-to-day service.”

LAD Services of Louisiana, founded in 1996, operates shipyard and repair facilities in southern Louisiana. The company supports towing vessels and marine equipment through repair, fabrication, drydock, dockside, and specialty marine work.