Master Marine Delivers Mv. Grain Express To Plimsoll
Plimsoll Marine, LaPlace, La., took delivery December 11 of the mv. Grain Express from Master Marine Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala. The 67- by 28-foot towboat is the second of four vessels that Master Marine is scheduled to deliver to Plimsoll; the first was the mv. Iron Lady, delivered in September.
“Plimsoll Marine’s goal is to provide the Lower Mississippi River with premier pushboat services, and the delivery of the Grain Express marks yet another milestone in our effort to build and maintain the industry’s most modern fleet of pushboats,” said Angus Cooper III, president of Cooper/T. Smith, parent company of Plimsoll Marine. “We look forward to operating all four of these new vessels, including the Grain Express, at Cooper Consolidated’s midstream terminals and barge fleets.”
Karl Gonzales, vice president of Plimsoll Marine, said, “Cooper Consolidated’s customers expect the safest, most efficient, and reliable operations, and Plimsoll’s first-class team and state-of-the-art vessels best ensure we are consistently exceeding the expectations of our customers.”
Specs
The Grain Express is powered by two Mitsubishi 803 hp. Tier III diesel marine engines operating at 1,400 rpm. and coupled to Twin Disc 5321 gears. The engines were supplied by Laborde Products Inc., which also supplied electrical power with two Northern Lights 65 kW Tier III electronic controlled generators with R.W. Fernstrum Inc. keel coolers throughout.
A pair of Sound Propeller Services Inc. 70- by 48- by 7-inch, four-blade, stainless steel propellers provide thrust through two J&S Machine Works Inc. 7-inch shafts with all Thordon Bearings, Thorplas bushings and shaft seals. RIO Controls & Hydraulic Inc. supplied the steering system for the two main and four flanking rudders.
Gulf Coast Air & Hydraulics Inc. provided a pair of Quincy reciprocating air compressors and ventilation fans. Schuyler Maritime LLC supplied all 18- by 12-inch rubber fendering around the perimeter of the vessel and push knees.
R.S Price & Son provided a Carrier mini-split HVAC system in all interior spaces with Blakeney Marine providing all custom woodwork and interior finishes. Donovan Marine supplied the large Bomar aluminum windows, and Dale’s Welding & Fabricators LLC provided the aluminum exterior doors. Wintech International LLC supplied a pair of 40-ton deck winches, and New World Inc. provided all electronics and communications, with an alarm system from Unlimited Control & Supply Inc.
Each of the four towboats has the capacity for 10,400 gallons of fuel, 4,359 gallons of potable water and 9,500 gallons of ballast water, along with providing a maximum 7-foot, 9-inch working draft. Each vessel is outfitted with three crew staterooms housing six crewmen, 1-1/2 baths and a full galley arrangement.
The four boats in the series were designed by Entech Designs LLC.
