Shallow Draft Push Boat from Sneed Shipbuilding

Blessey Marine Services, Inc. of Harahan, La. has taken delivery of a 65 x 24-ft. push boat. Built by Sneed Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas, the new boat is powered by a pair of Cummins KTA19M main engines delivering a combined 1,000 hp through Reintjes WAF363L main gears with 6:1 reduction. The props on the new boat, named David F. Stone, are four-blade 64 x 52-in. Michigan Workhorse. The six-in. shafts have Nickel-chrome liners increasing their dimension by .75 in. at the points where they pass through the hull and the stabilizer strut where Thordon bearings have been installed. Electrical power is provided by a 50kW, Stamford Newage generators driven by 6B5.9-D(M) Cummins engines. Cooling for both mains and gen sets is by Fernstrum. Accommodations is provided for up to five people in three bunk rooms. There is also a separate utility room with washer, dryer and freezer. Sound insulation, from Bayou Insulation of Orange, Texas, is installed on both the overhead and forward bulkhead of the engine room. For additional crew comfort, all interior walls have eight pound mineral wool insulation. Hydraulic components for both steering and flanking rudders was supplied by Custom Hydraulics of Gretna, La. The boat achieved 10.5 mph on its maiden voyage, pushing a 10,000 barrel oil barge. Blessey Marine's Steve Proehl reports the new boat's primary assignment will be pushing a 20,000 barrel barge on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, where the shallow draft will be an advantage ? particularly down in the Brownsville area. Builder Clyde Sneed reports he has recently delivered a 160 x 52-ft. floating dry dock to his Houston yard and currently has a sister hull to David F. Stone under construction on speculation.