Ingram Barge opts for GE for towboat repowers

Ingram used the Tier 2 version of the GE 250 series of marine diesel engines to repower the William P. Morelli (above) in 2009

APRIL 5, 2016 — Ingram Barge Company has chosen GE Transportation 8-cylinder, 250 mm bore inline medium speed (1,000 rpm) Tier 4 compliant marine diesels, supplied through and distributor National Maintenance & Repair Inc., for the repower of four of its towboats, the M/V Crystal D. Taylor, M/V Robert J. Barker and M/V Kim W. Nowell.

The GE Transportation engine provides Ingram with more power, faster response time, increased fuel efficiency and proven reliability using GE’s breakthrough Tier 4 technology that allows Ingram to meet the stringent EPA Tier 4 emissions standards without the use of a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) after-treatment.

“GE’s 1,000 rpm non-urea engine solution drove our decision on which engines to choose for the repowers,” said David Sehrt, Ingram’s SVP & Chief Engineering Officer.

Ingram used the Tier 2 version of the 250 series of marine diesel engines to repower the William P. Morelli and the Bill Berry in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Together, the two towboats have approximately 80,000 operating hours of proven reliability.

“We currently have GE engines on two of our repowers and they are reliable,” explains Mark Duley, AVP Motor Vessel Engineering. “We know we can count on GE.”

“We’re pleased Ingram chose GE again to help repower their three river towboats,” said Yuvbir Singh, vice president of Locomotive, Marine, Stationary Power and Drill businesses at GE Transportation. “We’re proud to provide a marine engine that meets Tier 4 emission standards and superior engine performance.”

Two of the Ingram towboats are currently being retrofitted with the new GE engines, and are expected to be back on the river in August.
The third vessel is planned to be completed in the spring of 2017.