American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) laid new ground in the inland towing sector with the first-ever towboat with a retractable pilothouse that also meets EPA Tier 4 emissions rules.
The 82-by-34-foot Michael J. Kennelly also is the first vessel powered by Mitsubishi Tier 4 engines, which are distributed by Laborde Products. The 2,520-hp vessel was built at Steiner Construction using plans developed by Farrell & Norton. It operates along the Houston Ship Channel.
“Having dedicated his entire career to the maritime transportation industry, we can’t think of a better namesake for this vessel than Mike,” ACBL said on social media. “The M/V Michael J. Kennelly is a pillar of sustainability and representative of ACBL’s ongoing commitment to lead the industry forward in providing safe, environmentally friendly barge transportation solutions.”
Michael J. Kennelly is powered by two 1,260-hp Mitsubishi S12R engines that use selective catalytic reduction units to meet Tier 4 standards. The engines are paired with Twin Disc reduction gears and Sound propellers. FPT generators supply electrical power.
The vessel has an air draft as low as 17 feet, 7 inches with the pilothouse lowered. It can carry 28,000 gallons of fuel, 3,000 gallons of diesel exhaust fluid and 8,400 gallons of potable water.
Other components include Wintech deck winches, Thordon bearings and shaft seals, Sea Horse marine sanitation system and Schuyler Cos. fendering. Coatings were supplied by Sherwin-Williams.
Alice
Crounse Corp. of Paducah, Ky., recently welcomed the 6,034-hp Alice into its inland towing fleet. The vessel entered service in early 2024 following delivery from Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, La.
Propulsion on the 166-by-48-foot towboat comes from two Wabtec Tier 4 engines paired with Reintjes reduction gears. Electrical power comes from Cummins generators.
“We are excited to welcome the M/V Alice to our growing vessel fleet and pleased to honor Mr. George P. Crounse and his family’s legacy with the naming of this vessel during our 75th anniversary year,” Crounse Corp. President and CEO Matt Ricketts said of the new towboat.
Alice, named for Crounse Corp.’s first towboat, is a sister vessel to Sandra Holt, delivered in 2021. Both towboats have accommodations for 12 people and advanced steering, electronics and navigation.
Nashville-based Ingram Barge Co. christened the 1,600-hp Gary L. Holman this spring along with two other towboats.
Gary L. Holman
Ingram Barge Co. recently celebrated the arrival of three new 69-by-30-foot towboats built by Main Iron Works of Houma, La.
Ingram, based in Nashville, Tenn., christened Gary L. Holman, Patrick L. Morton and Teresa Sprouse jointly in spring 2024. Ingram Marine, Main Iron Works and naval architect Ashraf Degedy partnered on the design of the 1,600-hp vessels.
Propulsion on the trio comes from two 800-hp Caterpillar C38 main engines driving Michigan Wheel props through Reintjes gears. Electrical power comes from 99-kW Northern Lights generators.
The four-decked towboats each have a 33-foot eye level, comfortable crew accommodations, and tankage for 12,000 gallons for fuel and 4,600 gallons of potable water.
Kristy Dutsch
Florida Marine Trans-porters, a prolific builder of new towboats over the last decade, has kept the good times going with the arrival of the 76-by-35-foot Kristy Dutsch.
Sterling Marine of Fairhope, Ala., designed the steel-hulled vessel, and Steiner Shipyard of Bayou La Batre, Ala., built it. Kristy Dutsch is the fifth in a series of six towboats, the first of which was delivered in 2021.
“Kristy Dutsch is every bit the boat that we expected,” said Jeff Brumfield, Florida Marine’s director of engineering. “Like its identical sisters, the boat operates very well. It’s smooth and quiet and trouble-free. In a word, they’re all outstanding.”
The propulsion package consists of two Tier 3 1,000-hp Caterpillar C32 engines turning 78-by-68-inch Sound propellers through Twin Disc gears. Two 99-kW John Deere gensets provide electrical power.
Other components include R.W. Fernstrum & Co. keel coolers, EMI Marine alarms and Twin Disc controls. Furuno and JRC supplied navigation electronics, and off-ship communication happens through Icom VHF radios.
Lucky 7
The 64-by-27-foot Lucky 7 entered service on the Lower Mississippi River recently for Gnots Reserve following delivery from Verret Shipyard.
The 1,500-hp fleet boat features an octagonal wheelhouse installed atop a pedestal instead of a second deck. The wheelhouse is equipped with Koden radars and other modern navigation electronics.
Propulsion comes from twin Cummins QSK19 main engines driving Sound propellers through Twin Disc gears. Lucky 7 makes up to barges through Wintech 40-ton deck winches and Schuyler Cos. provided fendering around the hull.
Gnots Reserve provides fleeting and towing services and is based in St. Rose, La. The vessel’s name evokes the seven grandchildren of Gnots Reserve President and owner Dan Wise.
Jennifer Lee
Maritime Partners, an innovator in maritime leasing and financing with a fleet numbering more than 1,850 vessels, welcomed yet another late last year with the delivery of the 2,600-hp towboat Jennifer Lee. C&C Marine and Repair delivered the vessel using plans from Entech Designs.
Propulsion on the 84-by-30-foot towboat comes from twin 1,300-hp Cummins QSK38-M1 engines turning four-blade propellers through Reintjes WAF 665 gears. Electrical power comes from two 99-kW Cummins gensets.
Navigation equipment consists of Koden radar units, Standard Horizon VHF radios, an R.M. Young weather sensor and Intellian satellite TV system. The vessel is outfitted with Carlisle & Finch searchlights, Patterson 40-ton deck winches and R.W. Fernstrum & Co. coolers. •