Page 46: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1997)

SHALLOW DRAFT REVIEW

Bisso Adds To to Fleet T X • *f "T

B; ! isso Towboat Co., Inc. has added tugboat Capt. Billy I Slatten to its fleet of har-bor and coastwise tugs.

The vessel entered service in

January, assisting ships on the

Mississippi River. Rated at 5,200 hp, the triple-screw tug joins sister vessel Scott T. Slatten as one of the most powerful and maneuverable tugs assisting ships on the

Mississippi River.

Capt. Billy Slatten is powered by three Detroit Diesel 16V-149TIs engines driving three Twin Disc

MG 540 reduction gears with a 7:1 ratio which, in turn, drive three, four-blade stainless steel pro- pellers set in 81-in. diameter stain- less steel Kort nozzles. The tug is equipped with Mathers pneumati shaft brakes and John Crane sha: seals. Electrical powervis supplied by two Lima 75-kW generators dri- ven by two GM 6-7 Is. Additional equipment aboard Capt. Billy

Slatten includes a Smatco CB20E vertical capstan and an 80-ton acity Washington Chain &

Su^p^y model RSRH-80 rotary quick Release tow hook with remote release in the pilothouse.

For fire fighting- duties, the tug is equipped with a SmrfjVI model MK- 150/VR-150 foam/water monitor rated at 2,000 gpm. The ntoiitor is powered by a GM engine rasping an eight-in. Peerless pump.

Auxiliary equipment includel

Skipper steering, Centofanta pneumatic engine controls, an EMI 36 point engine room alarm system and 2-One fire and smoke alarm system, Robertson autopilot aifd gyrocompass, Garmin GBS, Ritchie compass, Furuno r^dof, SEA VHF radios, and Standard loudlhailer and intercom. ew tug is of single chine design and measures 110.8 x 33.8-ft. (34 x 10.3-m), with an oper- ating draft of 12 ft. (13.6 m). The tug features a unique rudder sys- tem, in which its center rudder operates independently from the two outboard rudders, reportedly increasing its ability to maneuver in tight spaces. Thjs vessel is also ^outfitted with ..an stainless steel bits and hullnose, which will repdstadly help prevent chafing apd^WS^-of the Spectra 900 fiber rope slingi:-Jhis is the third tug in the Bisso fleefcig be outfitted with these slings.

Capt. Billy Slatten^ftQS construct- ed by Main Iron WoM*s, Inc.,

Houma, La., in 10 months artd,car- ries an ABS International loadli?

This is the fourth new tug con- structed at the yard in the past five years for Bisso Towboat Co. The vessel will be positioned in the

Mississippi River in the St.

James/Convent area, providing assistance to large tankers and bulk carriers calling in the area.

For more information on the companies mentioned in this article, circle the appropriate number on the Reader

Service Card:

ABS 127

Detroit Diesel 115

Furuno 123

Garmin 1

General Motors 119

John Crane 118 feers 117

Main Iron Works 126

Ritchie 122

SEA TSvv* 124

Smatco 128

Standard 125

Twin Disc 116

Washington Chain 8. Supply 120

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