Horizon Shipbuilding delivers towboats

NOVEMBER 5, 2012 — Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently delivered the towboat M/V Eugenie J. Huger to Canal Barge Company of New Orleans, La. The Huger (pictured at left)  is 74 ft long with a 32 ft 6 in beam and an 8 ft 6 in draft. Designed by Marine Design, Inc. of Gulf Breeze, Florida, the vessel will push two fully loaded fuel barges at 10 knots. Its 2,000 horsepower is provided by Cummins K38M, tier II 12 cylinder marine propulsion engines driving 74 inch Kahlenberg propellers through Reintjes WAF 562 reverse reduction gears.

Comfortable accommodations are provided for six personnel plus the captain. One unique feature is the fuel and fresh water stores for a vessel of this size, 30,000 and 11,400 gallons, respectively. Ship’s power is generated by two 85 kW Cummins generators.

Delivery of the Huger came shortly after Horizon delivered the fourth in a series of 120 ft towboats to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, La.

The M/V Dale Artigue joins her sister ships, M/V’s Capt. W. D. Nunley, Capt. Kirby Dupuis and Brees in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States.

“The workmanship that our guys put into this boat is easily recognizable,” said Ben Forrest, Horizon Project Manager. “These boats are real powerhouses and Horizon’s craftsmen are to be commended for their hard work. Also, my hat is off to Florida Marine for investing in such a strong and robust vessel.”

The M/V Dale Artigue was designed by John Gilbert and is 120 ft long by 35 ft wide with a 10 ftdraft. The towboat is four-decked and is outfitted for service in areas with restricted overhead clearances and draft limitations. She is powered by two 2,450 hp C280 Caterpillar engines coupled to Lufkin reduction gears. Ten inch shafts turn five-blade, stainless steel wheels manufactured by Sound Propeller Services, Inc. that are mounted in kort nozzles for maximum efficiency.

Auxiliary power is supplied by two 175 kW Caterpillar C9 generators. Horizon has two additional 120 footers under production, as well as two more 140 towboats.