Maritime Partners Christens Mv. Mandy Whipple
Friends, colleagues and family members with ties to Metairie, La.-based Maritime Partners LLC gathered in Bayou La Batre, Ala., late last year for the christening of the mv. Mandy Whipple, a 78- by 34-foot towboat from Steiner Construction Company.
The Mandy Whipple is the second towboat in the Maritime Partners fleet to carry the name of Whipple. The other boat, the mv. Larry B. Whipple, was christened in 2019 and is named for Maritime Partners co-founder and president Austin Sperry’s friend, sailing crew mate and godfather of one of his children. The Mandy Whipple is named for Larry Whipple’s wife.
The mv. Mandy Whipple is the 17th towboat that Steiner Construction has built for Maritime Partners. Shipyard owner Russell T. “Bubba” Steiner said that history between his team and the Maritime Partners team represents more than just an owner-builder relationship.
“We really appreciate Maritime Partners giving us the chance to build this boat,” Steiner said. “We don’t have just boat building. We’re friends now, and we really appreciate that.”
Father Daniel Good, pastor of Saint Philip and Saint Michael parishes in Mobile, Ala., then said a prayer of blessing over the boat.
After the prayer, Sperry addressed the crowd gathered for the christening by first recognizing the shipyard crew.
“Every time we take delivery [of a vessel], I’m more and more impressed,” Sperry said. “This isn’t possible without you men and women who come to work every day in the freezing cold, which is rare, and the heat, like we experience too much here. From Maritime Partners, myself and my business partner Bick Brooks and the men and women in Metairie, we really thank you guys very much for doing a heck of a job.”
Sperry noted that, at the time of the Mandy Whipple christening, Maritime Partners was not yet 10 years old and yet already boasted a fleet of around 1,900 vessels. Sperry called that feat “pretty awe-inspiring.” In light of that, Sperry then recognized several members of the Maritime Partners team present for the christening, along with vendors that contributed to the Mandy Whipple. Finally, Sperry introduced the vessel’s namesake.
“Larry is one of my best friends, one of my sailing buddies and a mentor and all-around great guy,” Sperry said. “Mandy and Larry got married 13 years ago, and she’s been part of the team ever since. When we looked at naming the boat, it was an easy decision to name the Mandy Whipple after the fabulous Mandy.
“This is the new pride of the fleet,” he added. “Sorry, Whipple, yours is now in the backseat. This boat’s a little bigger than yours.”
Taking the mic, Mandy Whipple said she was elated at the honor of having a boat bear her name.
“I was very excited about Larry getting his boat, and I thought that was the coolest thing in the world,” she said. “But this is definitely better than that. It’s a better boat, and it’s gorgeous, and I’m just blown away at what you guys have done here. … I could not be more proud of this vessel, and I’ll never forget this day, so thank you so much. Thank you for all your hard work.”
More About The Mv. Mandy Whipple
The Entech-designed mv. Mandy Whipple is a twin-screw towboat that has a 10-foot depth and a 33-1/2-foot pilothouse eye-level when fully loaded; that is, with 24,760 gallons of fuel and 13,824 gallons of potable water. Additionally, it can carry, also in gallons: 4,396 waste oil; 212 hydraulic oil; 428 lube oil and 215 gear oil.
The vessel’s 2,000 hp., at 1,600 rpm, comes from a pair of CAT 3508 main engines paired with Reintjes 573L gears from Karl Senner. The gears have a 7.09:1 ratio. The engines turn Kahlenberg propellers on 7-inch steel shafts with NCB liners, Duramax seals and Duramax bearings. Ship service power comes from a pair of John Deere 65 kw. generators. Eastpark Radiator supplied the grid coolers. Gulf Coast Air and Hydraulics supplied the alarm and steering systems. Wheelhouse Electronics provided the new boat with Furuno radars and other electronics and communications equipment. Wastewater treatment is by Ahead Sanitation Systems.
Quarters for a crew of seven consist of five berths, two full baths and two half baths. The mv. Mandy Whipple is air conditioned and heated by a Daiken split-style system except for the exercise room and pilothouse, where there is a Fujitsu mini-split system. The interior features wood vinyl plank flooring, almond FRP over plywood and a white grid-style, drop-panel ceiling. Joiner work is by Kern Martin. A full galley includes a Samsung refrigerator and freezer and a Whirlpool range.
The vessel features a Microm fire detection system from Hiller. Sound and vibration damping is by Mascoat Sound Control. On deck, there are two Nabrico 40-ton electric winches and a Hi Tide 1-ton davit. Fendering is by Schuyler. Paint is Sherwin Williams.
The Mandy Whipple is operated by Laborde Marine’s brown water affiliate, Labmar Inland. The company also operates the mv. Ivy Steiner, another Maritime Partners-owned towboat that was built at Steiner Construction.
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Featured Photo Caption: Mandy Whipple christens her namesake vessel, with Maritime Partners co-Founder and President Austin Sperry looking on.
