Eastern delivers first FMT newbuild with Sub-M certificate

M/V Brian Boudreaux

Eastern Shipbuilding, Panama City, Fla., has delivered the first new construction towboat in a long running series to be issued a USCG Subchapter M Certificate of Inspection (COI). The vessel, M/V Brian Boudreaux, (Hull 198) is the 68th in a series of 90’x 32’x 10’ inland towboat built by Eastern for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC, of Mandeville, La.

With a total of 70 towboats contracted since 2006, the program has become the largest single owner, single shipbuilder, new construction program with the same class towboat design in U.S. history

Built to a design by Gilbert Associates, Inc., Boston, Mass., M/V Brian Boudreaux was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton shipyard.

Saying that he was “very pleased” with how the delivery went,”Jeff Brumfield, Director of Vessel Engineering and Construction at Florida Marine, noted that Eastern “did a great job working through all the new USCG Sub-M challenges.”

M/V Brian Boudreaux is powered by two Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1,500 HP at 1,600 RPM, provided by Louisiana CAT Power Systems of Reserve, La. The reduction gears are direct coupled Twin-Disc Model MG-5600 with a 6.04:1 reduction, supplied by Stewart Supply, Inc. of Harvey, La.

Electrical power is provided by two 99 kW John Deere 4045AFM85 99KW Tier 3 generator sets rated for 60 Hz, at 208 V AC, provided by Kennedy Engine Company of Biloxi, Miss.