brownwater – Professional Mariner

13 May

Unexpected current led to Galveston barge breakaway, oil spill

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On May 15, 2024, about 0947 local time, the towing vessel LCPL Phillip C George was departing the Texas International Terminal in Galveston, Texas, pushing two loaded tank barges, when the port quarter of the towboat struck a terminal dolphin. One of the barges, MMLP 321, separated from the tow and struck a power transmission pole and the…

11 May

Captain’s cellphone use cited in collision, sinking of towboat

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On Dec. 29, 2024, about 1934 local time, the towing vessel Patrick J Studdert and bulk carrier Clara B collided while underway on the Lower Mississippi River at mile 122 near Luling, La. Patrick J Studdert sank, forcing all five crewmembers to abandon the vessel into the water. A sheen of diesel fuel was visible downriver. The crew…

07 May

Crescent adds second 6,000-hp z-drive tug from Blakeley

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, shipbuilding

(MOBILE, Ala.) — Crescent Towing has taken delivery of Kentucky, a new 6,000-hp Tier 4 z-drive tugboat constructed at Blakeley BoatWorks in Mobile, Ala. Kentucky began service in early 2026 and will soon be added to Crescent Towing’s ship assist operations on the Lower Mississippi River. This vessel is the second 6,000-hp tugboat built by Blakeley BoatWorks for Crescent Towing.…

17 Apr

Debris in water possible culprit in Ohio River barge breakaway

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing

(WASHINGTON) — On April 16, 2024, about 0445 local time, the barges MPC 907 and MPC 644 broke free from their moorings at the Marathon Petroleum Co. (MPC) terminal dock at mile 793.8 on the Ohio River, near Evansville, Ind. The two barges contacted mooring cells about 1,500 feet downstream at the TransMontaigne terminal at mile 794.1. The barges were…

13 Apr

Diversified delivers Mitsubishi-powered towboat for Vulcan

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & Towingbrownwater, shipbuilding

(HOUMA, La.) — Diversified Marine of Bourg, La., recently delivered the towboat Larry Gravely to Vulcan Materials Co. of Birmingham, Ala. The twin-screw newbuild is equipped with a pair of Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 main engines from Laborde Products, each rated at 803 horsepower at 1,400 rpm. The engines were applied to support the vessel’s operating profile and the steady,…

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…