ACBL Towboat 'W.T. Toutant' Launched At Jeffboat Shipyard

With a crack of the champagne bottle, Mrs. William T. (Eileen) Toutant recently christened the new towboat named to honor her husband at the Jeffboat, Incorporated shipyard in Jeffersonville, Ind. The new towboat, W.T. Toutant, is a 6,000-bhp vessel constructed by Jeffboat for its sister company, American Commercial Barge Line Company (ACBL). Both companies are part of the Inland Waterways Division of Texas Gas Transmission Corporation.

The vessel was decked out in bright pennants and a fresh coat of orange primer for the occasion. Immediately after the christening ceremony, the order was given to cut the ropes, and the Toutant slid down the Jeffboat launchways into the Ohio River.

When she is completed and outfitted, the Toutant will go into service moving Western coal from ACBL's Hall Street Terminal in St. Louis to the Cajun Electric Cooperative's coal dock in New Roads, La.

The Toutant is named for William T.

Toutant, vice president of engineering at Jeffboat. He is an alumnus of the U.S. Naval Academy, and has graduate degrees in engineering and business from Syracuse University and the University of Louisville.

He is a registered professional engineer, a retired commander in the Naval Reserve, and is active in several technical and professional organizations.

Mr. Toutant began his career with Jeffboat as a naval architect in 1959, and held several related positions before being named a vice president in 1977. During his time with Jeffboat he has been instrumental in the design and development of the 5,000-, 5,600-, 8,400- and now the 6,000-horsepower class towboats. He has also provided guidance and engineering management in specialized equipment, including the Mississippi Queen and ferries Jeffboat constructed for Alaska and Texas.

Other stories from July 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.