Blessey Marine Builds Retractable Wheelhouse Towboat

38 May 26,1998

Just across from New Orleans on the Harvey Canal, Kody Marine, Inc is building another of their well known pushboats but this one is a little different. With the conventional shallow water draft of the river tow boat, it will have an adjustable air draft. To meet the requirements of the Upper Mississippi and other small and bridged rivers where she will work, she has been designed by Design Associates of New Orleans, with a telescoping three stage hydraulic ram to lift the wheelhouse from a low position with a clearance over the wheelhouse once the antenna has been retracted, of just 18 feet. Fully extended the top of the wheelhouse with have an eye level view of 32 feet. In the lowered position the wheelhouse will nestle into a space cut away in the forward part of the main deck house.

With a 75-foot over all length the tug will have plenty of accommodation space for up to eight people. Pushing power will be provided by a pair of Cummins KTA38-M2 engines generating a total o 2400 HP driving through Reintjes WAF673 gears with a 6.4:1 ratio. Electrical power will come from a pair of Cummins 6BTR 5.9/75 Kw. Gensets.

Blessy Marine's Steve Proehl, reports that, while unclassed, the boat is being built to ABS load line specs to allow the company to run it out into Lake Michigan to go from Chcago to Whiteing, Indiana.

For further information contact:

Al Heisler
Phone: (504) 465-3403
Territory Sales Manager
Fax: (504) 465-3408
Cummins Mid-South Inc.
Kenner LA 70062

Steve Proehl
Phone (504) 734-1156

Mitch Jones
Blessey Marine
New Orleans

Clyde Naquin
Phone: (504)364-1176

Kody Marine, Inc.
Fax: (504)364-1712
600 Peters Rd.
Harvey, LA 70058

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