FMT orders another towboat at Eastern Shipbuilding

AUGUST 12, 2014—The long-standing relationship between Florida Marine Transporters, Inc., Mandeville, LA, and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, FL,  keeps growing. FMT, Mandeville, LA, recently exercised an option for a 90 ft x 32 ft x 10 ft inland towboat with Eastern Shipbuilding Group, bringing the total number of vessels contracted with the yard since 2006 to 61 in the series. That makes it the largest single builder, single owner new construction program for one towboat design in U.S. history.

The new order brings to six the number of towboats that are currently being built or on order at Eastern Shipbuilding.

The towboat is a Canal Class design by naval architectural firm Gilbert Associates, Inc., Boston, MA.  Each of the new towboats will be fitted with two Caterpillar 3512C EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, each rated at 1,500 hp at 1,600 rev/min.

The reduction gears are direct-coupled Twin-Disc Model MG-5600, with a 6.04:1 reduction supplied by Sewart Supply, Inc., Harvey, LA. Electrical power is provided by two 99kW John Deere 4045AFM85 99KW Tier 3 generator sets rated for 60 Hz, at 208 VAC provided by Kennedy Engine Company, Biloxi, MS.