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Hope Services reports that it conintues to build one after another of its popular Frank Basile-designed 72 x 30 x 10-ft., pushboats. Even a double hook from two hurricanes only slowed construction at the Dulac, La., yard.

Located near the shores of the Gulf of Mexico they found themselves on the west side of Katrina so that the 160 mph winds came from the northwest causing some damage, but since they were from the land side, no water.

But then Rita came and they were on the eastern side of this circular storm so that the 120 mph winds tore up what Katrina had loosened and then a seven-foot surge of water flooded the shipyard. "My car would have been right under water," said manager Lou Parker.

But Parker and his crew had been able to get most of their equipment into elevated storage and he had taken himself and his car safely inland. The water surge did damage the big shipyard crane so that the company was obliged to bring in a floating crane barge to launch its lat- est 72-ft. pushboat, the Rockfish, built for Maryland

Marine of Houston, Texas. Like other boats of this class, a pair of Cummins KTA38 M0 engines will power the new vessel with each generating 850 hp at 1,800 rpm.

The engines turn into Twin Disc 540 gears with 6.14:1 reduction. The 73 x 56-in. four-blade stainless propellers are mounted on six-in. stainless shafts. A pair of Cum- mins 6B series powered 50 kW generators meets electri- cal needs.

Tankage on the vessel includes 20,000 gallons of fuel; 10,000 gallons of water and 500 gallons of lube oil. A pair of Nabrico electric-over-hydraulic system, 40-ton deck winches handle the 1.25-inch face wires. Hurricane damage through out the Gulf Coast has harmed many of

Hope Services suppliers as well, "We use to get steel and plywood out of New Orleans," says Parker, "But now we have to go to Memphis or Texas."

The Cummins engines, however, are still supplied by

Cummins Mid-South who have facilities in Morgan City and Kenner in full operation. In spite of the hurricanes, delivery of the latest Hope Services pushboat was delayed only two months to mid-February 2006. Hope

Services has three more of these 1700 hp pushboats in production and expected to launch at three-month inter- vals.

Circle 14 on Reader Service Card 8• MarineNews • March, 2006

NEWS

Hope Services: Continued Success Despite Hurricanes

The towboat Rockfish alongside at the Hope Services yard. (Photo credit: Alan Haig-Brown)

Preparing to install the stack on the towboat Rockfish. (Photo cred- it: Alan Haig-Brown)

The Rockfish alongside with the floating crane brought in to launch her in the background. photo credit: Alan Haig-Brown

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