53 November 2, 1998

Barry Graham Orders Cummins-Powered Crewboats From Breaux Brothers

The next generation of the Graham family of Bayou LaBatre is back in the oil supply business. When the Graham family sold the company some years ago, they had built a fleet of around 100 utility boats, 30 crew boats and seven cargo vessels. Now a younger generation Graham is building his own business. With the addition of a pair of 4400 HP 155-foot class boats from Breaux Bay Craft earlier this year, Barry Graham has a fleet of five vessels. By the time he takes delivery of two 155X30-foot crew boats from Breaux Brothers in Loreauville, Louisiana next year, he will be up to eight boats. The new boats will pack 5400 HP from four Cummins KTA38 M2 rated for heavy duty at 1350-hp at 1950 RPM. Turning 46X42 four-blade propellers through Twin Disc MG650 gears with 2.5:1 reduction.

"I wanted more horsepower," says Barry Graham, "And I chose Cummins because they are a tried and true proven product at the right price."

He also went to a tried and true builder when he chose Vance and Ward Breaux, who worked with their own father from 1962 to 1983 before starting their own company. The 155-footer is a new hull design for Breaux Brothers and is an off shoot of their 135-footer. The four KTA38 engines will be staggered by the engine length in their positioning in the hull so that the two center engines sit back. Different shaft lengths will reduce this difference so that the props are closer to being in line.

Vance is projecting a total cargo capacity of 400 tons for the new boat, with 20,000 gallons of fuel, 35,000 gallons of water and 275 tons of deck cargo. The deck is also being set up to handle two 1000 cubic foot portable containers of Bayright drilling mud. Breaux Brothers hulls are known for their speed and the new hull with its fine entry carrying a 75 to 80 degree deadrise is projected to reach 26 to 27 knots with 50 tons on board.

A bow thruster will assist maneuvering and a 1500 line pull McElroy back-down winch on the bow will carry 1200 feet of 3/4-inch cable for mooring to buoys prior to backing down on the rigs and putting lines out on the stern quarters while transferring cargo.

The first of the new boats is scheduled for delivery in July 1999 with the second to follow a few weeks later.

For more information:

Barry Graham
Barry Graham Oil Service LLC.
Bayou La Batre, Alabama
Phone: 334 824-2774 Fax: 334 824-7958
E-mail: BJ101395@GTE.NET

Vance and Ward Breaux
Breaux Brothers Enterprises Inc.
Loreauville, Louisiana
Phone: 318 229-4232 Fax: 318 229-4951

"Red" Cunningham
Cummins Mid-South Inc.
Hwy. 90 East
P.O Box 1229
Amelia, LA 70340
Ph: 504 631-0576 Fax: 504 631-0081

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