Steiner Shipyard Delivers Mv. Kristy Dutsch To Florida Marine
Florida Marine Transporters Inc. recently put into service the fifth of six identical 2,000 hp. towboats from Steiner Shipyard. The Mandeville, La.-based barge line took delivery of the mv. Kristy Dutsch on December 18. It is the second towboat Florida Marine has named Kristy Dutsch, the first one having been sold recently to Nugent Sand Company.
The namesake is a 22-year veteran of Florida Marine, who was born in Panama, where her father was stationed until, in 1979, they moved to Laredo, Texas, and he became a U.S. Customs agent. From Texas, they were transferred to Slidell, La., and lastly, in 1997, to Covington, La., where Kristy’s husband retired from the sheriff’s department.
Kristy is planning a trip to Panama this winter to visit her birthplace for the first time since the family left for the U.S. “I’m really excited about it,” she said.
As to how she got a job with Florida Marine, after graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond with a degree in management and working for a while in the physical therapy industry, she heeded the advice of her high school classmate, Rhonda Lamulle. “She’s my best friend and just couldn’t say enough about this great barge line where she worked. Of course, she was talking about Florida Marine. She’s the controller there, and so, in January 2002, I applied for a job in the billing department and got it,” she said.
Worked Her Way Up
Dutsch worked her way up to billing manager and since has become more involved with operations, sales and numerous other departments within the organization. “Dennis (Pasentine, chairman and CEO) won’t let me leave the billing department,” she said. Her actual title is director of client services, reporting directly to Pasentine, oftentimes referred to as Big D for his generosity. “Honestly, he will give you the shirt off his back,” Dutsch said.
In addition to overseeing the detailed interaction of billing and operations, as well as contract renewals, she assists in the company’s daily efforts for continuous improvement by ensuring all personnel are following the company’s Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA) program and Subchapter M. “Above all, my role is to ensure we are meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations,” she said.
When not working, Dutsch can often be found caring for the three dogs she and her husband rescued from the local animal shelter. “They’re all part Labradors that we picked up as strays. They’re named Cedar, Buddy and Rascal,” she said. Some additional hobbies include reading, watching football and scuba diving.
Vessel Specs
Designed by Sterling Marine, the mv. Kristy Dutsch is a conventional twin-screw towboat that measures 76 by 35 by 11 feet. The main engines are Caterpillar C32 Tier 3 units provided by Louisiana Cat. Coupled to Twin Disc 540 reduction gears with a 7:1 ratio from Sewart Supply, the engines turn Sound 76- by 68-inch propellers on 7-inch shafts with Simplan tailshaft seals and Duramax Cutlass bearings.
The engines are cooled by Fernstrum keel coolers and monitored by an alarm system from EMI, which also provided the electric-over-hydraulic steering system.
When fully loaded with fuel and water (30,000 gallons and 10,000 gallons, respectively), the boat draws 8 feet. The pilothouse eye level is 34 feet, 6 inches. Auxiliary power for the new boat is produced by a pair of John Deere 99 kw. generators furnished by Kennedy Engine Company.
Quarters for seven are composed of one single and three double bunkrooms, plus two full and two half bathrooms. An exercise room, fully furnished lounge and all-stainless-steel galley provide additional comfort for the crew. The deckhouse interior, manufactured and installed by Kern Martin, is insulated throughout with mineral wool and Mascoat sound-damping material in strategic locations.
Air conditioning and heating is provided by a Mitsubishi split ductless system, fire safety is achieved through a Novec system from Hiller Systems, and fendering is Schuyler.
The Kristy Dutsch has two Patterson 40-ton electric winches. Its electronics suite was supplied and installed by FMT’s in-house IT/electronics department.
Caption for top photo (click on photo for full image): The 2,000 hp. mv. Kristy Dutsch is the fifth of six identical towboats being built for Florida Marine Transporters by Steiner Shipyard. (Photo courtesy of Steiner Shipyard)
