Verret Shipyard Completing Mv. Miss Carter W

Note: an earlier version of this article credited the wrong firm with designing the Miss Carter W. The correction has been made in the version below.

Marine Chartering Associates LLC, a marine equipment lessor based in Houston, Texas, is expecting to take delivery soon of an 86- by 30-foot, 2,000 hp. twin-screw towboat. The vessel was designed and is being built by Verret Shipyard, located in Plaquemine, La., and will be bareboat chartered to Strategic Towing Services LLC, headquartered in Orange, Texas. Verret anticipates completion of the Subchapter M compliant vessel sometime between March 31 and April 15, said Marine Chartering’s owner John McMahan.

McMahan, formerly the vice president and chief financial officer of Higman Barge Lines, said the vessel will be named Miss Carter W after his oldest daughter, Carter M. Wimberly. Other vessels in Marine Chartering’s fleet include the Cynthia K, Miss Amanda M, Otto, Laura M and Alberto.

“Verret has done an outstanding job,” McMahan said, “as has Alberto De La Puenta on our end. He has worked with me since 1995 when I hired him at Higman. There, he oversaw construction of over 75 pushboats and 100 tank barges.”

When Verret finishes the Miss Carter W, the shipyard will begin construction of a sister vessel to it, McMahan added.

Strategic Towing operates a 100-barge fleet in an oxbow of the Neches River, 5 miles from its intersection with the GIWW. The principals are James Robertson and Chris Bouquet, formerly of CLM Towing.

Caption for photo: Drawing of the mv. Miss Carter W, designed by Entech Designs and being built by Verret Shipyard for Marine Chartering Associates.