Conrad Building Second 6,000 Hp. Towboat

Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City has started production on a second 6,000 hp. inland towboat designed by MiNO Marine of New Orleans. The Subchapter M-compliant vessel measures 166 by 49 by 12 feet and is powered by Tier IV compliant engines. Conrad has orders from two customers for the vessels.

Conrad worked closely with MiNO Marine, who developed the design based on regulatory requirements and current needs existing in the market. Conrad’s production line is geared for serial production for multiple customers, and component manufacturing coupled with a modular build strategy results in efficiencies in production, on-time delivery and lower costs to the customer, the company said in the announcement. The vessel has an optimized hull form for improved performance, and the design is intended to be flexible to accommodate different propulsion drive-trains.

The vessels currently under construction each utilize different engines; one vessel will be equipped with GE engines, and the other will have EMD engines.

“This horsepower range is right in our wheelhouse, and we will continue to expand our capabilities to be able to service our customers’ needs,” said Johnny Conrad, chairman and CEO. “We are delighted about the opportunity to provide our customers with a quality vessel constructed by our proven and experienced shipbuilding team.”

MiNO Marine is a Louisiana-based naval architecture and marine professional services firm; it was founded in 1997 under the name David M. Bourg & Associates, and was renamed MiNO Marine LLC in 2006.

Conrad Shipyard was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Morgan City, La. The company provides both repair and new construction services at its five Gulf Coast shipyards located in southern Louisiana and Texas.