Houston, Tx.-based marine equipment lessor Marine Chartering Associates LLC has taken delivery of the new twin-screw towboat Miss Carter W.
Designed by Verret Shipyard, the Subchapter M-compliant vessel was built at the company’s Plaquemine, La., facility and will operate under charter Orange, Tx.-based Strategic Towing Services LLC (STS), which operates a fleet of 100 liquid petroleum and petrochemical barges on the Neches River.
Measuring 86- by 30-feet, the 2,000 hp. Miss Carter W is equipped with twin Caterpillar C32A main engines rated 1,000 hp. each at 1,800 rpm. Karl Senner LLC supplied Reintjes WAF 573 gears, which have a reduction ratio of 7:1, and turn a pair of 80- by 62-inch steel propellers mounted on 7-inch shafts fitted with Duramax seals.
The engines are cooled by East Park Radiator grid coolers and a pair of Cat 4.4 marine gen sets with 75 kW are installed aboard. Custom Hydraulic Components provided the fully redundant, electric-over-hydraulic system that control the two main and four flanking rudders, while a 42-point vessel alarm system was manufactured by Eagle Controls.
Louisiana-headquartered Wheelhouse Electronics supplied a full suite of hardware including a Furuno FAR-2127 radar with a 19-inch LCD monitor, three VHF radios, a swing meter, a sounder and a bridge watch. A pair of Carlisle & Finch Xenon searchlights and a Kahlenberg duplex airhorn sit atop the pilothouse.
A pair of 40-ton Patterson winches are positioned on deck with the vessel’s tow knees and hull protected by M&M Bumpers and fenders.
According to Verret Shipyard, the company has begun construction of a sister vessel to Miss Carter W. Other vessels in Marine Chartering’s fleet include the Cynthia K, Miss Amanda M, Otto, Laura M and Alberto.