brownwater – Professional Mariner

31 Mar

FMT delivers pushboat, towboat to Maritime Partners

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, shipbuilding

(HARVEY, La.) — Maritime Partners has placed into service the pushboat Deirdre Ann, a newbuild from FMT Shipyard in Harvey, La. The vessel is powered by two Mitsubishi S6R2 Tier 3 engines, each rated at 803 horsepower at 1,400 rpm, with commissioning support from Laborde Products. The S6R2 platform is designed for consistent power at working speeds, strong low-end torque,…

10 Mar

Keels authenticated for first waterways commerce cutters

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsbrownwater, shipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard authenticated the keels for future waterways commerce cutters (WCCs) Allen Thiele, Fred Permenter and Samuel Wilson on Friday in Bayou La Batre, Ala. The three In a special proceeding, the keels for three cutters were authenticated simultaneously, a departure from the traditional single-vessel ceremony. Keel authentication is a time-honored maritime tradition in which the…

20 Feb

AWO, American Chemistry Council renew safety agreement

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, Licensing and training, safety

(WASHINGTON) — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the American Waterways Operators (AWO) have renewed a memorandum of agreement that reaffirms a shared commitment between the chemical industry and the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry to enhance safety, environmental protection and security through Responsible Care and AWO’s Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). The agreement renews a streamlined approach that enables…

10 Feb

WCI calls for ‘central hub’ to improve inland project oversight

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(WASHINGTON) — The Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) has released a white paper prepared by HDR titled "Inland Navigation Construction Organization: A New Programmatic Approach for Delivering Major Projects." The paper outlines the necessity for creating a new integrated and programmatic inland navigation construction organization (INCO) within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to drive accountability and execute multiple inland waterways…

05 Feb

Hines Furlong takes delivery of three Mitsubishi-powered towboats

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, propulsion, shipbuilding

(PADUCAH, Ky.) — Hines Furlong Line recently brought three new towboats into service in the company’s ongoing 11-boat construction program built around Mitsubishi propulsion supplied by Laborde Products. The series creates a unified fleet with consistent power, predictable maintenance and strong day-to-day performance. Sun Valley, the second vessel completed in the program, was built by Eymard Marine Construction & Repair…

03 Feb

Study aims to boost cargo between Great Lakes, inland rivers

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsbrownwater, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Ports

(WASHINGTON) — The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA), including members Ports of Indiana, the Illinois International Port District (IIPD) and Port Milwaukee, in partnership with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. (GLS), will begin a comprehensive market analysis aimed at expanding cargo movement between the Great Lakes and inland waterways system. Together, the Great Lakes and inland…

26 Jan

Laborde provides Mitsubishi power for Blessey’s first Tier 4 towboat

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsbrownwater, propulsion, Tugboats and towing

(CHANNELVIEW, Texas) — Capt. Daniel Armstrong, a new-construction 2,600-horsepower towboat and the first Tier 4 vessel in the Blessey Marine Services fleet, has entered service powered by a Mitsubishi S12R marine engine supplied and supported by Laborde Products. The vessel was christened on Jan. 14 at Web Fleet in Channelview. Capt. Daniel Armstrong, built by Vessel Repair of Port Arthur,…

22 Jan

Terral River Service repowers towboat with Mitsubishi Tier 3 engines

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newsbrownwater, propulsion, Towboats and towing

(LAKE PROVIDENCE, La.) — Terral River Service has completed a major repower on the towboat Johnny M., upgrading from Caterpillar 3508 Tier 2 engines to Mitsubishi S12R Tier 3 engines rated at 1,260 horsepower at 1,600 rpm. The project reflects Terral’s ongoing commitment to reliable performance, lower emissions and fleetwide efficiency supported by its continued collaboration with Laborde Products. “The…

15 Jan

Tow breaks apart after barge takes on water, rapidly sinks

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On March 16, 2024, about 0008 local time, the towing vessel Chad Pregracke was transiting southbound on the Lower Mississippi River pushing 34 loaded barges near mile 260.6, about 5 miles east of New Roads, La. The barge PTC 706 at the head of the tow rapidly sank, causing the tow to break apart. Five barges in the…

15 Jan

Study details costly delays on inland waterway projects

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsbrownwater, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(WASHINGTON) — The Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) has released a study on U.S. inland waterway capital projects – locks and dams – that examines why costs escalate, timelines for completion continue to slip, and economic benefits to the nation from projects’ execution are consistently delayed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works mission is responsible for constructing the nation’s…