Blount Launches 300th Vessel

Harold E. Bickings, the 300th vessel built by Blount Industries, was launched earlier this month. The 104 ft. oyster dredge, built for Tallmadge Brothers, is scheduled to operate out of Port Norris, N.J. This is the hailing port and location of the Peterson Packing Co., one of the oldest oyster businesses on Delaware Bay. The vessel will have 1,835 sq. ft. of working deck served by hydraulic conveyors and a bob cat loader on deck with a "garage" for it built into the forepeak. Dimensions are 104.4 x 34 x 8.9 ft. It is propelled by a Caterpillar 3408 DITA diesel engine, developing 515 bhp at 2,100 rpm, which has a hydraulic pump hook-up for power steering. A pair of Cat 3306 engines, both producing 270 bhp at 2,200 rpm, drive the dredge suction pump and deck washdown pump. The dredge pump engine has a dual clutch assembly to drive a hydraulic pump for the deck conveyor/shaker and hydraulic bowthruster. Electrical power is provided by a Northern lights M22CQ.21 diesel generator, producing 22 kW at 1,200 rpm, 120/208 VAC 3 phase at 60 Hertz.