M/V Ryan Anthony is now working the Lower Mississippi for Gnots Reserve Inc.
The La.-based company took delivery of its newest towboat from Eymard Marine Construction & Repair’s shipyard on the Harvey Canal.
The new towboat – named for Ryan Hayes, Gnots Reserve’s port engineer – is the fourth ‘spindle top’ vessel the shipyard has built for the Louisiana-based owner to a unique, fully-compliant design by New Orleans, La.-based Entech & Associates.
The fourth such vessel in Gnots Reserve’s fleet, Ryan Anthony features an octagonal pilothouse atop a spindle, with no middle deck. New for Ryan Anthony, Gnots Reserve eliminated the lower windows in the other three similar vessels, opting instead for larger windows and a lower dash.
Besides offering wheelmen a 360-degree view, the octagonal pilothouse atop a spindle eliminates the need for a second deck and enhances stability and maneuverability, both with a tow and light boat, even in high water.
Gnots Reserve eliminated the lower windows like those found on the other three similar vessels, opting instead for larger windows and a lower dash.
Hayes said the Gnots team also swapped the hatch on the bow from Jack Estes for a doghouse stairwell. This time, Gnots went with Cummins generators as well.
Like Jack Estes, Ryan Anthony measures 64 by 27 by 9.6 feet with an 8-foot draft – a foot wider than the other two vessels in the series. That extra foot, Hayes said, further enhances its stability.
The new twin-screw vessel is powered by a pair of Cummins QSK19-M main engines from Cummins Mid-South that produce 1,320 hp.The main engines turn Sound four-blade, 68- by 53-inch propellers from Jefferson Propeller on 6-inch, cold-rolled shafts with Thordon TG100 dripless tail shaft seals and RiverTough tailshaft bearings. Thordon also supplied ThorPlas-Blue rudder bearings, ThorPlas-Blue steering linkage bushings and SXL thrust washers.
Ryan Anthony has Twin Disc 5222 gearboxes from Sewart with a reduction ratio of 6.1:1 and the engines are cooled by Duraweld grid coolers from East Park Radiator.
The steering and flanking rudders are controlled by an electric-over-hydraulic, full follow-up system manufactured by Hydra Force. Unlimited Control & Supply provided the vessel’s alarm system.
The vessel has one stateroom with a double bunk and a bathroom, while DiSalvo Marine supplied the six-man Seahorse marine sanitation system. Ryan Anthony also features a galley outfitted with granite countertops and Spanish cedar cabinets.
The engine room fire suppression system is from Hiller, while the sound proofing and perforated metal in the engine room are from Marine & Industrial Insulation Inc. Wheelhouse Electronics provided the vessel’s electronics package, which includes a pair of Koden radars.
A pair of 19-inch Carlisle & Finch search lights adorn the top of the pilothouse.
On deck, the Ryan Anthony is equipped with three 40-ton Wintech winches, two on the main deck and the other centered on the fleet deck for handling empties.
Wintech also supplied the vessel’s roller buttons, while Donovan Marine provided the kevels. Fendering is by Schuyler.