ESG Deliver Towboat, Launch PSV

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. informs that it has delivered the towboat MV Kimberly Hidalgo to Florida Marine, and on the same day launched the Platform Support Vessel (PSV) MV Bravante lX for Boldini S.A., Bravante Group of Brazil.

1. Delivery of MV Kimberly Hidalgo
The new tugboat is  one of a series with EPA Tier 3 main propulsion engines and generators delivered to Florida Marine. The vessel is powered by two (2) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1,500 HP at 1,600 RPM provided by

The reduction gears are direct coupled Twin-Disc Model MG- 5600 with a 6.04:1 reduction supplied by Stewart Supply, Inc. of Harvey, Louisiana. Electrical power is provided by two (2) 99kW John Deere 4045AFM85 99KW Tier 3 generator sets rated for 60 Hz, at 208 VAC provided by Kennedy Engine Company of Biloxi, MS. These diesel engines comply with the current EPA Tier 3/MARPOL control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines.

ESG explains that this this series of towboats originally began with a twenty-five vessel contract with on- time deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single builder single owner new construction program of the same class towboat design in United States history.

2. Launch of MV Bravante lX
This is the fifth and final vessel launched in the Bravante Platform Supply Vessel Series. The event was held on August 28, 2014 at Eastern’s Nelson Street Facility with hundreds of Eastern’s Employees and Guests in attendance.

Attending from Bravante Group were Nuno Neves, CEO, and Ricardo Buteri, COO, along with additional members that traveled from Brazil to witness the launch of the fifth Platform Supply Vessels under contract with Eastern. The Bravante V was the first PSV delivered in November of 2013. The 284-ft long Bravante lX is scheduled for delivery in January of 2016. The five vessel contract was accomplished in part, by a $241 million Department of Transportation Title XI loan guarantee from MARAD.

In special attendance for the BRAVANTE IX launch ceremony was Paul “Chip” Jaenichen, the Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). He said a few words about the five vessel contract history, the Title XI financing and MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant program.

Roberta Rodrigues, the Bravante Group Legal Manager, had the honor of breaking the bottle and christening the vessel. Eastern’s President Brian D’Isernia said a few words about the continued bright future of shipbuilding here in the United States, how this project added local jobs, the growth of the company and his gratitude to Eastern’s skilled workers prior to the launch.

Father Roy Marien of Saint John’s Catholic Church located in Panama City, Florida, performed the blessing of the vessel.

ESG add that VARD Marine and Eastern Shipbuilding provided the VARD SV290 design for these vessels from the very successful and proven Eastern Shipbuilding “Tiger Shark Class” Series. Sixteen other Offshore Supply Vessels in this series have been delivered to Eastern’s clients and have already proven themselves in worldwide operations.