Page 61: of Marine News Magazine (November 2022)

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Silver Ships

TOBIN

Owner: U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers

Builder: Silver Ships

Designer: Silver Ships new marine surveying vessel is custom designed for ager, said, “Together our engineering teams have designed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to hy- and built signi? cant boats like Tobin over many years. High-

A drographically map the mouth of the Mississippi River, performance power installations are always fun puzzles to allowing researchers to accurately and effectively obtain solve with talented companies like the Silver Ships team.” and document data on the rapidly changing waters in the Tobin operates with MGX5136RV Twin Disc marine mighty river. gears, Michigan Wheel propellers, Furuno navigation and

Delivered by Alabama shipbuilder Silver Ships to US- communication systems, Delta ‘T’ Systems engine room

ACE’s Venice Sub Of? ce in Venice, La. earlier this year, ventilation, Arid Bilge Series 4 system and Ayres panel-

Tobin is equipped to handle challenging river terrain as ing. Additionally, Tobin is equipped with state-of-the-art it conducts condition surveys of the river to further the technology including the Teledyne Marine EchoTrac E-20 safety of marine operations by helping to keep waterways survey system, which uses a single-beam transducer that open and prevent obstructions to marine navigation. “To- charts river depths and monitors water changes that could bin [joins] a ? eet of vessels operating out of the USACE be potentially hazardous to marine navigation.

Venice Sub Of? ce that works year-round to provide river This vessel’s name honors Thomas G. Tobin who condition data to vessel operators,” said Jason Powers, Di- worked for the USACE New Orleans District for more rector of Business Development for Silver Ships. “This than 30 years. As a capable engineer and brilliant program- data is essential to the safe and ef? cient transportation of mer, Tom developed systems that automated the process- goods up and down the Mississippi River.” ing and mapping of daily navigation condition surveys col-

The 49-foot Tobin is the latest expansion in Silver Ships’ lected. He was a part of the Engineering Division Channel

Endeavor series of workboats and is the largest marine sur- Improvement team and he achieved success with their au- veying vessel of its series. The vessel is powered by twin Cat- tomated design functions that ensure successful operations erpillar C18 Tier 3 engines making 800 hp each to reach of the Mississippi River. Mr. Tobin passed away in Febru- speeds of 28 knots. The single Caterpillar C2.2 Tier 3 genset ary 2016, at the age of 54, after a battle with cancer. Mr. provides 25 ekW of electric power for Tobin’s air condition- Tobin dedicated his skills to the Corps mission and made a ing, echo sounder and other electrical needs onboard. broad, lasting and meaningful impact on the entire district

Richard Tremayne, Thompson’s Marine Business Man- and the citizens of south Louisiana.

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