Cummins-Powered Construction Pushboat Delivered By Keith A. Record

The 42-foot, 50-ton pushboat Walter D. Johnson, newly built by Keith A. Record of Portland, Ore., is undertaking a demanding job on the Columbia River—that of spotting bridge construction barges in tight quarters and rapid river currents.

For this tough assignment, vessel owner Johnson Bros. Corporation selected twin Cummins KT19-M marine diesel engines for main propulsion.

At an intermittent power rating of 2,100 rpm, each of these six-cylinder turbocharged engines develops 510 bhp.

Most pushboats of this size do not have nearly this much horsepower, but reliable propulsion, with plenty of power in reserve, was needed for this bridge construction job. The Minnesota-based Johnson Bros, has a $16-million contract to build a three-lane, 3,365-foot-long bridge across the Columbia River at Umatilla, Ore.

The new towboat will be used in a variety of bridge-building functions, including the construction of cofferdams, maneuvering crane barges, and transporting cement trucks on a service barge for construction of the bridge piers.

The Walter D. Johnson has a beam of 18 feet and depth of 7 feet; operating draft is 6 feet. Operator eye level in the pilot house is 25 feet above the waterline.

Each Cummins KT19-M engine turns a 46-inch-diameter stainless steel propeller supplied by HDF Propellers of Seattle. Air controls are American Standard, and the hydraulic steering system, making use of Parker cylinders, valves, and pumps, was supplied by Western Fluid Power of Portland.

The pushboat has a Fernstrum keel cooling system for the main engines that is mounted on the sides of the hull due to the vessel's short hull length for the engine horsepower installed. Fuel filters are by Racos and mufflers by Harco.

A 20-kw Northern Lights generator was supplied by Alaska Diesel Electric of Seattle. Rodgers Marine Electronics of Portland supplied the Raytheon radar, Standard depth sounder, Standard VHF radio, and Horizon hailer. Other suppliers, all in Portland, included Apollo Marine Services, electrical components; Western Metals, aluminum windows; and In-Mar Sales, Devoe points.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 8, Sep 1985

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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.