Page 96: of Marine News Magazine (November 2015)

95 97

VESSELS Boat of the Month

M/V Rick Calhoun

Marquette’s Gulf Island Marine Fabricators-built towboat christened in festive New Orleans riverfront style.

The ? rst of three 10,000 HP towboats being built for is rated to push as many as 40 loads, primarily grain and

Marquette Transportation has been launched and chris- other bulk cargoes on the Mississippi River.

tened in a festive ceremony held on the banks of Mis- The new vessel was named for Rick Calhoun, Waterways sissippi River in New Orleans. Marquette welcomed the Council (WCI) board member and President of Cargill’s powerful, 180-foot vessel into its ? eet in September. A ro- Cargo Carriers, the barge and marine operations arm of bust addition to Marquette’s already impressive 125+ ves- Cargill’s North American operations. Cargill is a valued cus- sel strong ? eet, the Rick Calhoun is said to be the largest tomer of Marquette Transportation. For his part, Calhoun towboat built in the last 40 years for river service, as well remains one of inland marine industry’s most vocal advo- as the highest horsepower twin-screw ever built. Delivery cates, through his work at WCI and myriad other industry of the second and third vessels - Loree Eckstein and Chad stakeholder forums. Addressing the gathered throng, Cal-

Pregracke – is scheduled for February and August 2016. houn told listeners that he was humbled by the namesake

Marquette is counting on increased ef? ciencies from the honor, which notably was the ? rst time that Marquette had

Rick Calhoun, leveraging the combination of high horse- ever reached outside its family to name one of its vessels.

power and the steering ef? ciency provided by the Becker Marquette Transportation Company is one of the na- ? ap rudder system. Already a staple in other maritime sec- tion’s largest providers of marine transportation services, tors, the system is now just beginning to impact the do- having combined three leading family-owned businesses mestic brown water market. For its part, Marquette plans under one banner. Unlike most integrated barge lines, to install additional Becker Becker High Lift Flap Rudder it offers a strategic mix of vessels along many waterways systems on future newbuild and retro? t tonnage. including but not limited to the Mississippi River, Ohio

At the christening, Marquette Senior Vice President Josh River, Illinois River, Tennessee River, Cumberland River,

Esper praised both the quality of work and the timely deliv- Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Arkansas River, the In- ery of the vessel by Gulf Island Marine Fabricators. Indeed, tracoastal Waterway and offshore destinations, as well. the contract was signed in July 2014 and Marquette took Marquette today boasts one of the nation’s newest, safest delivery in August 2015, with actual construction complet- ? eets, encompassing more than 120 marine vessels, rang- ed in less than one calendar year. Already at work, the vessel ing from 1,250 to 10,000 horsepower.

The M/V “Rick Calhoun” at a glance …

LOA: 180 feet Engines: (2) EMD 20-710 G7C Tier 3 Lube Oil: 1,600 gallons

Beam: 48 feet Gears: Lufkin RHS3200 HG (4.75:1) Ballast: 93,000 gallons

Depth: 11-1/2 feet MSD unit: Scienco/FAST model MX-3 Radar: Koden MDC 2520

Horsepower: 10,000 Winches: (4) Nabrico DF 156-60-11 Winches: (4) Patterson BC-40

Shaft Seals: Wärtsilä Fire Suppression: Herbert S. Hiller Fuel Capacity: 136,000 gallons

Rudders: Becker Capstan: Schoellhorn-Albrecht Generators: (2) John Deere

November 2015

MN 96

MN Nov15 Layout 82-97.indd 96 10/23/2015 2:41:35 PM