Detroit-Powered Towboat Delivered To FOSTI By Orange Shipbuilding

The towboat Fosti Sybil M.

(shown above) was delivered recently by Orange Shipbuilding Company, Inc. of Orange, Texas, to Fuel Oil Supply and Terminaling, Inc. (FOSTI) of Houston.

She is the fourth of a five-vessel contract from Fosti, which includes three other pushers and a tugboat.

Powered by twin GM Detroit Diesel 16V92 engines, each rated 600 bhp at 1,800 rpm, the Fosti Sybil M. has an overall length of 65 feet, beam of 26 feet, depth of 10 feet, and normal operating draft of 8 feet. Two Delco 40-kw generators are driven by Detroit 4-71 diesels. All of the engines were supplied by George Engine Company of Harvey, La. Engine monitoring equipment was furnished by the builder, and all electronic gear was owner-furnished.

The main engines turn twin Kahlenberg 66 by 58-inch propellers through Twin Disc model 520 6:1 reverse/reduction gears.

The vessel is fitted with two steering and two flanking rudders. The electrohydraulic steering system was designed and supplied by Custom Hydraulics, Inc. The boat carries 17,000 gallons of fuel oil and 11,000 gallons of potable water.

Carlisle & Finch supplied one 1 , 0 0 0 - w a t t and one 750-watt searchlights. The bow winch is a NABRICO 20T; Parker furnished the model 40T stern winch. The crew of five is accommodated in three staterooms, and the vessel is fitted with a spacious, fully equipped galley.

The fifth vessel in the FOSTI contract, t h e towboat Justin- Lindsay, is the first boat to be built in Orange Shipbuilding's new construction shop. The building has two construction bays, each 220 feet long and 60 feet wide. Three 30-ton cranes within the building facilitate the lifting of heavy units such as machinery, deckhouses, and hull sections.

When a vessel nears completion in the shop, it is transferred outside via a rail system for the final touches, then moved to the yard's new marine railway for launching. Total t r a n s i t time from the building to the launching ways is about two hours.

Other stories from June 1981 issue

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.