During the 2014/2015 Holiday Season, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V TY DOLESE (Hull 189) the 59th 90’ Inland Towboat to Florida Marine Transporters,
Inc. of Mandeville, LA. for its ongoing new build program. Also, Florida Marine signed a contract for the 63rd vessel (Hull 193), an additional 90’ Inland Towboat.
It was in early January 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed this additional towboat, bringing the total to sixty-three (63) vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Four (4) of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past ten months. The M/V TY DOLESE is the 59th Vessel delivered in this ongoing series of now sixty-three (63) vessels. This recently signed vessel, Hull 193 will be constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.
This ongoing order for 90’ towboats originally began with a twenty-five (25) vessel contract, with on-time deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single builder, single Owner, new construction program with the same class towboat design in United States history.
The vessels recently delivered and under contract with Florida Marine are installed with EPA Tier 3 main propulsion engines and generators. The vessel is powered by two (2) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1,500 HP at 1,600 RPM provided by Louisiana Power Systems. The reduction gears are direct coupled Twin-Disc Model MG-5600 with a 6.04:1 reduction supplied by Stewart Supply, Inc. of Harvey, Louisiana. Electrical power is provided by two (2) 99kW John Deere 4045AFM85 99KW Tier 3 generator sets rated for 60 Hz, at 208 VAC provided by Kennedy Engine Company of Biloxi, MS. These diesel engines comply with the current EPA Tier 3/MARPOL control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines.