Ordering Brisk At Dravo, Including Four Towboats At Cost Of $16 Million

Orders for river towboats and barges have been at a high level at Dravo Corporation. During a recent 30-day period, for example, Dravo was awarded contracts to build four 6,000-bhp towboats, each valued at over $4 million.

The towboats will be constructed by Dravo's Engineering Works Division, which operates one of the nation's largest inland river shipyards at Neville Island, near Pittsburgh.

Donald P. Courtsal, Dravo vice president and general manager of the division, said that inquiries for towboats are at "a high level reflecting the need for increased horsepower to match the large number of new barges that have been added to the nation's fleet in the past two years." Last year, Dravo launched 319 hulls, the second highest in the shipyard's history. Mr. Courtsal said he anticipates that 1981 will "set a new record." During the same 30-day period, Dravo also recorded orders for 90 hopper barges, and Mr. Courtsal anticipates that demand will remain strong through the end of the year.

Dravo also announced that the four towboats it has been constructing for Chang Jiang Shipping Administration of the People's Republic of China will be shipped from New Orleans to China in June.

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.