43 July 13, 1998

General Purpose Tugs To Service Shallow Water Oil Wells

Rodriguez Boat Builders of Bayou LaBatre Alabama continue to enjoy a strong demand for their lugger style tugs designed to work in the shallow near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Earlier in the year a 66X22X8-foot version powered by a pair of Cummins NTA-855-M main engines was delivered to Supreme Towing of Venice, Louisiana. This was followed by a second vessel, delivered to Barrios Boat Rental, with three of the Cummins NTA-855-M engines in its slightly beamier 66X26X8.5-foot hull.

In July he was finishing out a 66X24-foot version of the craft which features a hull that carries a full shape forward with the bottom brought up quickly at the stern to allow the props and rudders to maintain a minimum depth. This attractive blue on blue painted vessel, for C&D Towing, is powered by a pair of the NTA-855s rated at 350 hp.

Building in July for a scheduled August 18 delivery is a fourth version of the popular craft. This one, at 66X24 with a molded depth of eight feet and a draft of five feet, will be powered by a pair of Cummins recently introduced N14 engines. A redesigned version of the reliable 855, these engines are rated at 440 hp each. To be painted up in the red, white and black colors of Jerrold Denet's Denet Towing in Boothville, Louisiana this will be the company's first Cummins-powered boat. "This will be the seventh tug in my fleet and the first to be Cummins powered," says Denet, "Through talking with some other owners and checking prices I choose the engines. They give more horsepower for less money and they consume less fuel."

As much a small freighter as a tow boat, a lugger-style tug has the main house built aft leaving a large forward space clear for deck cargo. Although lacking push knees, the model bow can be made up with deck winches for pushing a scow. Fendering around the hull also allows for barges to be carried on the vessel hip while H-bitts aft permit towing.

All design work and engineer detail are undertaken in house at the Alabama yard by Joe Rodriguez.

For more information and drawings contact:

Joe Rodriguez Jr.
Rodriguez Boat Builders
Bayou LaBatre, AL 36509
Phone: 334 824-4067 Fax: 334 824-4074

For red, white and black photos contact:

Jerrold Denet
Denet Towing Service
Boothville, Louisiana
Phone: 1 800 972-6749

For more detailed engine specs contact:

Larry Neff
V-P Marine Marketing
Cummins Alabama Inc.
3422 Georgia Pacific Ave.
Mobile, Alabama
Phone: 334 452-6426 Fax: 334 473-6657

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