Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has met a major corporate milestone by delivering the M/V John Grimsley #59 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 and the M/V Isla San Luis on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.
The M/V John Grimsley #59 designed by John Gilbert, is a 140-ft long by 42-ft wide, 9.2-ft draft, towboat vessel that is four-decked and is outfitted for service in areas restricted to overhead clearances and draft limitations. She is powered by two EMD 710 12 CYL engines driving 99” propellers through Nico MGN 5023Z gearboxes. There are two Cummins generators to support ship’s power. The steering system is provided by EMI. The accommodations on the vessel are for a pilot, master, engineer, and six crew members. She was launched at Horizon Shipbuilding’s Bayou La Batre facility using their 600 metric ton TraveLift. According to Horizon’s Project Manager, John Carnley, the vessel’s 6000 available horsepower will easily push 25 fully loaded barges throughout the inland waterways of the southeast United States. The vessel will be christened after delivery by Florida Marine Transporters out of Mandeville, LA.
The M/V Isla San Luis is the second of two high speed Fast Intervention Supply Vessels (FSIV) for Grupo TMM of Mexico. The M/V Isla San Luis measures 182-ft long, with a 34-ft beam and a depth of 13-ft. It is powered by four Cummins KTA50M2 engines driving 4 propellers through Twindisc gear boxes and two bow thrusters. Design services were by Horizon Shipbuilding and Castleman Maritime out of Kemah, Texas. According to Ron Gunter, the vessel’s Project Manager, “Some unique characteristics of the vessel include clear deck cargo of 3,010 sq. ft., liquid mud of 42,337 gallons, and drill water of 32,976 gallons.”
Ing. Luis Ocejo, Director, Marine Division for Grupo TMM commented, “Grupo TMM, headquartered in Mexico City with branch offices located in all major ports in Mexico are proud to receive from Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou La Batre Alabama Isla San Luis the second 182 x 34 foot class fast supply vessel that will start a 5 year time charter contract for Pemex Exploration and Production.” Grupo TMM is a Mexican intermodal transportation and logistics company. Through its branch offices and network of subsidiary companies, Grupo TMM provides a dynamic combination of ocean and land transportation services. One of its business lines is specialized in the Mexican Offshore Oil and gas industry and through a modern fleet of offshore vessels Grupo TMM provides a unique combination of transportation services for Pemex Exploration and Production as well as to major players located in Mexico.
(www.horizonshipbuilding.com)