I o w a M a r i n e Delivers Towboat Betty Edwards To M o r r i s H a r b o r Service

Iowa Marine Shipyard in Keokuk, Iowa, recently delivered the river towboat Betty Edwards to Morris Harbor Service of Morris, 111. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Iowa Marine, which is also headquartered in Morris.

The new vessel is named after the mother of Tom Edwards, Iowa Marine's board chairman.

She has a length of 50 feet, beam of 22 feet, and depth of 7 feet; the pilothouse has an eye level of 25 feet.

Twin Cummins NTA-855 main diesel engines develop a total of 650 bhp at 1,800 rpm. Two Twin Disc 5.17:1 reduction gears turn 54-inch Kahlenberg propellers through 5-inch shafts. Electrical power is provided by a 25-kw Lima generator driven by a 3-cylinder Duetz air-cooled diesel. Other equipment includes a Dayton air compressor, Humphrey sanitary system, hot water heater, air conditioners, electric range, and refrigerator.

The vessel has many innovative design features that add to her versatility and ease of maintenance.

The pilothouse measures 8 by 8 feet and has deep windows that provide complete visibility to all four corners of the boat from the operator's seated position. The second deck is equipped with a full fleet deck, specially designed for strength and safety, allowing the vessel to handle empty barges with ease.

A new Iowa Marine design allows the 30-ton Patterson electric winches to be installed inside the tow-knees. This protects the winches from weather and provides a large, clear forward deck area. The raised stern deck is covered with rough-cut 2- by 8-foot oak planking, giving it a non-skid surface for safe access to rudders and steering mechanisms.

Heat is provided by 30,000-Btu truck type heaters fed by the main engines and equipped with 12-volt fans. This heating system is backed up by 220-volt electric heaters.

Two Carlisle & Finch incandescent searchlights are installed, one 120-volt and one 12-volt. The vessel has two all-channel Raytheon 53 VHF radios, a Raytheon 400 loudhailer/intercom, and complete engine alarm system. All navigation lights, pilothouse lights, and some deck and engine room lights are 12-volt operated.

The Iowa Marine-designed, fullfollow- up steering system is driven by main-engine-powered hydraulic pumps, giving the vessel the ability to operate without the generator in case of emergency or for added economy.

The bilge pump is designed so that any compartment on the vessel can be either pumped or ballasted by using the sea cock. A 12- volt Jabsco automatic pump, separated from the engine room bilge, pumps the stuffing box drain water directly overboard even with the vessel completely shut down.

A spacious, paneled bunk room with a full head is located on the main deck, and a small, fully equipped galley is on the second deck. This gives the Betty Edwards the capability for operations between Lemont and Hennepin, 111.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 18, Apr 1984

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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.