Page 17: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 1981)

Cummins Powers First Towboat

Built By Brice Shipbuilding

Central Boat Rentals of Mor- gan City, La., recently put to work a unique inland, 60-foot pushboat built by Brice Ship- building Inc. of Chauvin, La. The

Vail Trail (shown above) is an unusual ship in that it has six rudders for improved maneuver- ability and control.

The four flanking rudders and two steering rudders are con- trolled by a mechanical-over-hy- draulic steering system with full follow-up. Power for the Vail

Trail is provided by two match- ing KTA-1150 marine engines rated at 470 bhp each at 1,800 rpm. The powerful Cummins die- sels drive Twin Disc MG 518 ma- rine gears with 6:1 ratios and

Coolidge 62- by 50-inch four- bladed wheels. "The construction and design exceeds American Bureau of serviced by the CS&S branch in nearby Morgan City.

Tom Lemmon, CS&S Morgan

City branch manager, noted that

Cummins was proud to be a part of the first boat built by Brice

Shipbuilding and the first Cum- mins-powered one for Central.

Shipping requirements for a new boat," said Don Bordelon, presi- dent of Brice Shipbuilding and naval architect for the Vail Trail. "The propulsion system will make the Vail Trail a very responsive towboat."

With a 27-foot-high pilothouse, a Vail Trail captain should not have any trouble keeping an eye on barges. In addition, the new boat has a specially designed bow platform located above the main deck for easy access to high barges and for carrying extra equipment.

Electrical power is provided by a Perkins 330 DKM-12 generator set rated 30 kw at 1,200 rpm. The

KTA-1150 Cummins engines and the Perkins generator set were provided by Cummins Sales &

Service, Inc. The boat will be

SHIPYARD INC.

ON THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL

HOUSTON TX. 713-923-2001

P.O. BOX 5065 HOUSTON TX. 77012 8114 HOCKLEY

A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE IN A NEW SHIPYARD.

SPECIALIZING IN REPAIR OF SUPPLY VESSELS - OFFSHORE TUGS - GEOPHYSICAL VESSELS -

RIVER BOATS - AND BARGES.

THREE FLOATING DOCKS 1700-1200

AND 1000 SHORT TONS. 1500 LENIAL FT. OF WET DOCK AND 22 FT. OF WATER.

U.S.C.G./SOLAS

REGULATION PILOT LADDER

Manufactured in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard and SOLAS regulations. Steps all 1-3/16" thick grooved for non-skid surface. Hearts and 70" spreaders standard. All steps are pressure tested to 750 lbs. and branded with manufacturer's name. All wood parts treated with Fed. Spec. TT-W-572 pre- servative. Can be manufactured with rubber step segments.

A.L.Don Company

Foot of Dock Street, Matawan, N.J. 07747 201 /541 -7880 TELEX: 139374

A Division of Steelstran Industries

July 1, 1981 Write 461 on Reader Service Card Write 149 on Reader Service Card 19