M/V Donny Mudgett Delivered to Hines Furlong Line

Hines Furlong Line has taken delivery of the M/V Donny Mudgett, the first vessel completed in its eleven-vessel newbuild program. Built at Intracoastal Iron Works in Bourg, Louisiana, the M/V Donny Mudgett is powered by three Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2-Y3MPTAW engines, each delivering 803 horsepower at 1,400 RPM.

The Donny Mudgett is the first of eleven vessels currently under construction at Intracoastal Iron Works and Eymard Marine Construction & Repair. The program includes five triple-screw and six twin-screw vessels, with Laborde Products supplying all 27 Mitsubishi engines for the series.

“We’ve worked with Intracoastal for many years, and the Donny Mudgett is a continuation of that relationship,” said Kent Furlong, President at Hines Furlong Line. “This project brings together family-owned businesses on both the shipbuilding and supply side, and we value those relationships as much as the vessels themselves.”

“We’re proud to support Hines Furlong on a project of this scale,” said Brian Laborde, President & CEO of Laborde Products. “It’s the kind of collaboration that plays to the strengths of everyone involved, and we appreciate the trust Hines Furlong has placed in our team.”

Hines Furlong Line represents one of the longest-standing family traditions in the inland river transportation industry, with more than 150 years and five family generations of presence on the inland waterways. Today, the company operates a fleet of towboats on the Cumberland, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Mississippi Rivers. HFL also specializes in leasing its fleet of inland towboats, tank barges, and hopper barges to other barge lines and some end user customers. The company continues to build on its legacy by making significant investments in new equipment and evolving to meet the changing needs of its customers.

3000 DWT Hopper Barges

A fleet of 3,000-ton deadweight hopper barges, designed by Robert Allan Ltd., was launched at Juruá Shipyard in Manaus, Brazil, marking a milestone in LHG Mining’s river transportation initiative in South America. This inaugural barge is part of a 400-unit fleet commissioned by LHG Mining to enable the efficient, sustainable transport of high-grade iron ore from Corumbá, Brazil, to export terminals in Uruguay. The cargo will travel more than 2,500 km along the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway.

A total of four shipyards across Brazil have been contracted to construct the fleet, each tasked with delivering on the scale and complexity of this transformative project.

Each convoy is comprised of 16 barges (8 rake and 8 box barges) pushed by a high-powered inland RApide pushboat, also designed by Robert Allan Ltd. Each convoy will transport over 50,000 deadweight tons of iron ore, matching the capacity of a typical Supramax ore carrier.

Moose Boats Hybrid for Kings Country Sheriff’s Office

The King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division selected Moose Boats to build a new, custom diesel electric hybrid patrol boat. The model M1 will be 46-ft. long and powered by two Volvo Penta D11-625HP Diesel engines integrated with in-line twin Dan Foss electric motors. King County Sheriff’s Office was able to purchase this vessel by using GSA (Government Service Agency) discounted pricing with a generous grant made possible by Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding.

This vessel build will be a close collaboration between Hamilton Jet, who has designed the electric propulsion system, Volvo Penta and Moose Boats. Current battery technologies manufactured by Corvus Battery will enable the vessel to run solely under electric propulsion for up to two hours at 5 knots. Integrated diesel drive engines will act to replenish batteries at a rapid rate with electric motor boost to enhance upper end speed performance.

Hamilton AVX Express will allow for tight-quarter maneuverability through joystick controls with jet anchoring capabilities. This system also includes a hand held remote that will enable the vessel to be piloted from different places within the confines of the cabin. Full complement of Raymarine electronics will integrate radar, chart-plotter, AIS, depth sounder and rear facing camera. A separate tow sonar will have monitoring capability within the climate-controlled pilot house. Other equipment includes ICOM VHF radios and department radios.

Chem Carriers Finalizes Fleet-Wide Shift to Mitsubishi Engines

Chem Carriers completed the repower of the M/V Capt. Robert J. Banta, marking the final vessel in its current fleet to be powered by Laborde Products-supplied Mitsubishi engines. The twin-screw towboat is now running on twin Mitsubishi Tier 3 S12R-Y3MPTAW engines, each delivering 1,260 hp at 1,600 RPM.

Originally built in 2015 by Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana, the 78-ft. Capt. Robert J. Banta previously operated with Cummins QSK38 engines. With this repower, Chem Carriers’ entire 15-vessel towboat fleet now runs exclusively on Mitsubishi power.

“Seeing Chem Carriers complete their entire fleet with Mitsubishi engines is a milestone we’re proud to have supported,” said Brian Laborde, President & CEO of Laborde Products. “For operators like Chem Carriers, moving to a common engine platform is about simplifying operations, crew training, and parts management across every vessel.” “We’ve seen the reliability from these engines over the years, and bringing the last vessel over to Mitsubishi just makes sense for us,” said Frank Banta Jr., Managing-Owner at Chem Carriers. “Now our crews, maintenance team, and parts inventory are all on the same page, which makes day-to-day operations that much smoother.” Chem Carriers has been a leader in inland liquid marine transportation since 1994, with a fleet of 15 towboats, 54 inland tank barges, and a 100-barge capacity fleeting service at mile 207 on the Mississippi River.

Silverback Marine Contracted to Build Law Enforcement Vessels

Silverback Marine partnered with Swedish based company PETESTEP to develop a high-performance law enforcement boat for the New Mexico State Parks Rangers.

The patented PETESTEP technology is the significant difference between their SPRAYWATER shape and traditional stepped hulls. The tech uses angled deflectors as opposed to steps, which take advantage of the spray energy generated by the hull when underway. Compared to a standard monohull, the company reports a reduction in G force (slamming) is reduced up to 50%, with an average overall reduction of 30%. In addition to the increased ride comfort and reduced operator fatigue, speed and fuel efficiency is improved by 35.. With an 18” wide bow door for easy landing, non-marking full perimeter fendering, and generous shelter, the vessel is also equipped with SHOXS suspension seating, dual weapon lockers, and WHELEN lighting and siren systems. With a top speed of over 60MPH, the 21-ft. vessel is versatile, nimble, and suited for a range of sea states including river, lake, bay, and modest offshore conditions. The first vessel has commenced construction, with delivery scheduled for late summer 2025.

St. Johns Ship Building Delivers CTV WINDEA Reliance

St. Johns Ship Building, owned by Americraft Marine, delivered WINDEA Reliance, the third and final vessel in a series of 30-m aluminum Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) built for WINDEA CTV LLC, a partnership between MidOcean Wind and Hornblower Wind. Designed by Incat Crowther, these Jones Act-compliant vessels will provide safe and efficient crew and equipment transfer to wind installations. “Delivering the WINDEA Reliance marks the culmination of an important multi-vessel project for St. Johns Ship Building and for America’s offshore wind infrastructure,” said Joe Rella, President of St. Johns Ship Building. “We’re proud to work alongside WINDEA, MidOcean Wind, and Hornblower Wind to strengthen the domestic supply chain and support clean energy from right here in Palatka.”

St. Johns Ship Building’s has made major capital and workforce investments in recent years to modernize its aluminum construction capabilities, enabling the concurrent delivery of complex vessels for the clean energy sector. “The team at St. Johns has built another high-quality CTV that will make an immediate impact in offshore energy,” said Bradley Neuberth of MidOcean Marine / WINDEA. “These vessels prove what the U.S. shipbuilding industry can deliver. Each one creates jobs in multiple regions—during construction, and for years to come as they operate offshore. These CTVs play a vital role in helping America meet its growing energy demands, and we are thrilled with the work St. Johns did to deliver WINDEA Reliance and her sisters.”