Page 44: of Marine News Magazine (November 2025)

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Great Boats 2025

Thomas Grasso uilt at Blount Boats, Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. leave the bridge. The bridge boasts a fantastic 360-degree view (BHGI) provided design, engineering, bid sup- while in operation and can seat three crew.” port, and construction oversight for the Thomas The design combines characteristics of inland towboats

B

Grasso, a versatile tug built for the New York and coastal vessels, offering strong visibility from the raised

Power Authority and the New York Canal Corporation. pilothouse, while maintaining a low enough air draft to

Built for year-round operations, the vessel supports a wide navigate under canal bridges. Its low working freeboard range of critical tasks across New York’s canal system, in- and full perimeter deck access make it well-suited for cluding towing and pushing assets, dredging support, de- maintenance, dredging, and repair work. ployment and maintenance of navigational aids, pollution Below deck, the layout supports multi-day operations control, and icebreaking in areas vulnerable to ice accumu- with heated and conditioned accommodations for 2-3 lation and spring ice break up. The vessel is certi? ed as a overnights, with a capacity for eight crew members. Cold-

USCG Subchapter M Towing Vessel and built to Ameri- weather gear systems, integrated heating, and window can Bureau of Shipping Marine Vessel Rules, with an ABS wipers ensure the vessel remains operational throughout

Grade D reinforced ice belt and appendages. the harshest of winter conditions. “The Grasso and his three Sisters is a simple Sub-Chapter M Another key feature of the Thomas Grasso is its adapt-

Tugboat design,” said Bob Pelletier, Project Manager, Blount ability. Its layout and systems can be easily recon? gured to

Boats. “Most of the structural parts of the hull and deck house better support a speci? c task or set of tasks, depending on are CNC cut with very little bracketing brought into the de- the needs of a particular section of the Canal. This ? exibility sign. The heavy, thick hull plating, sized for ice breaking, keeps allows for the enhancement of existing capabilities or the in- faired hull lines with little to no oil canning appearance after tegration of entirely new functions beyond its current scope. welding. The engine room is systematically appointed with “The Grasso can sleep 3 crew, with a head, shower, freezer/ accessibility and head room that is perfect for crew operations refer, electric food warmers, oil ? red furnace, electric heat, and maintenance. With the Grasso’s low air draft a very low and a split duct AC/Heat Pump system,” said Pelletier. “The vertical center of gravity it offers a very stable comfortable ride well-appointed interior of the bridge and crew space is out? t- for a refreshed crew. It also comes with a one button lowering ted with white oak furniture, B-Class Joinery, vinyl laminated mast for running under Erie canal bridges without having to ceiling panels with lots of mahogany trim to compliment.”

Blount Boats/BHGI

THOMAS GRASSO MAIN PARTICULARS

Boat Name: ............................................Thomas Grasso

Boat Type: .........................................................Tug Boat

Boat Builder: .......................................Blount Boats, Inc.

THOMAS GRASSO

Boat Owner/Operator:........NYPA/New York Canal Corp.

Boat Designer: ........................Bristol Harbor Group, Inc.

Length, (o.a.): .............64’-6” molded, 66’-3” over fender

Beam: .............................22’ molded, 23’-8” over fenders

Depth, (molded): ................................9’ midships at side

Draft: ....................................................................7’ DWL

Air Draft: ......................................................15’-3” ADWL

Main Propulsion: .....................2x Caterpillar C9.3 Tier 3

Total installed power: .....750 hp (560 kW) at 1800 RPM

Propellers: ................Michigan Wheel 38” SS, HD pro? le

Shafts: ...................2 x 4.5” Aquamet 22 HS (+2 spares)

Gears: ..................................Twin Disc MGX5114SC 3:1

Speed: .............................................................10.5 knots

Bollard Pull: .......................................................18,000 lb

Gensets: ..................................2x Caterpillar C2.2 Tier 3

HVAC:.............Olympia 105KBtu Diesel-Fired w/Modine hydronic heaters, Coleman Mach rooftop A/C

Pushing Winches: ....2x Nabrico DF 156-10-6L/R 10 ton

Roller Chocks: ...................................2x Nabrico DF-164

Fenders: .........Schuyler SR114D,-RC and -V Laminated

Main Davit: Nick Jackson 500 lb (227 kg) @ 7’-6” radius

Portable Davits: ................................Columbia 5AFM SS

Fire detection, suppression: ...................................Kidde 44 | MN November 2025