(HARVEY, La.) — Maritime Partners has repowered the pushboat John Austin, replacing Cummins QSK38 engines (1,300 hp at 1,800 rpm) with Mitsubishi S12R-Y3 engines rated at 1,260 hp at 1,600 rpm. After 28,000 hours on the previous platform, the decision to repower was driven by the need for reliability, reduced downtime, and a smarter long-term investment.
“At 28,000 hours, it came down to a full overhaul or a repower. We chose to repower with the Mitsubishi S12R,” said Austin Sperry, co-founder and president, Maritime Partners. “It meant less downtime, more value over the long haul, and confidence that Laborde’s team would be there with the right support.”
That emphasis on fit and follow-through was central to the project.
“The John Austin needed a repower that made sense not just on paper, but in the water,” said Bradley Matte, sales representative, Laborde Products. “The S12R-Y3 has hundreds of installs in commercial service, and operators know it as a workhorse. Our role was to spec it properly, commission it cleanly, and make sure Maritime Partners had a reliable platform from day one.”
The repower installation leveraged the vessel’s existing systems while making minor modifications. The S12R-Y3 fit within the original rail centers and paired with the Reintjes WAF 665 gearbox via adapter plate. Key modifications included new grid coolers, an adjusted exhaust system, remote air canisters, new pedestals, and rerouted cooling lines. Other systems, including electronic controls, Racor filtration, fuel supply, and air start, all remained fully compatible. The result was a straightforward repower with limited yard time and no surprises.
– Laborde Products
