The following is text of a news release from Eastern Shipbuilding Group:
(PANAMA CITY, Fla.) — Eastern Shipbuilding Group has announced the delivery of M/V Brian Boudreaux (Hull 198), the 68th 90-by-32-by-10-foot inland towboat from the builder. It is also the first new construction U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M towboat for Florida Marine Transporters LLC of Mandeville, La.
It was in early 2018 when Florida Marine Transporters ordered four more additional towboats, bringing the total to 70 vessels contracted over the past 14 years. Brian Boudreaux was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates Inc. of Boston, Ma. Brian Boudreaux is the first new construction vessel in the series to be issued a Subchapter M certificate of inspection (COI).
This order for 90-foot towboats originally began with a 25-vessel contract and was successfully completed with on-time deliveries. It has expanded to become the largest single-owner, single-shipbuilder new construction program with the same class towboat design in the United States.
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 VAC provided by Kennedy Engine Co. of Biloxi, Miss. These diesel engines comply with the current EPA Tier 3 regulation of emissions of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines.
