87 September 15, 1999

Pushboat for Longtime Louisiana Operator

In business since the 1960s, veteran towboater Autry Dufrene of Belle Chasse Louisiana is having a new boat built at LaForce Shipyard in Bayou LaBatre Alabama. The 1600 HP, 74x28 foot pushboat incorporates "a semi-camber" design from the keel to the chine on the underside of the aft hull. "It keeps the plate rounded to give extra strength and stop the vibration," explains Dufrene who operates his fleet under the name American Tugs, Inc.

Power for the new boat will be provided by a pair of Cummins 12-cylinder KTA38 MO engines developing 800 HP each. This is Dufrene's second boat with the KTA38. He repowered a boat with a pair of the engines a little over a year ago and has been happy with their performance. On the new boat the engines will be linked to Twin Disc MG-5301 gears with a 6.39:1 ratio turning 74x60-inch propellers. On her December delivery, the new boat will be the fourth vessel in American Tugs' fleet of tow boats available for charter work on the inland waterways.

Financing for the project was arranged by Bob Lowe through Cummins Case Financial Services.

For more information:

Angela Koretzky or Autry Dufrene
American Tugs, Inc.
102 Victoria Drive,
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Phone: 504 368-7907 Fax: 504 393-7657
E-mail: andyjesus@aol.com

Raymond LaForce
LaForce Shipyards, Inc.
Bayou LaBatre, Alabama
Phone: 334 824-2152

Larry Neff
Phone:334 452-6426
V/P Marine Marketing
Cummins Alabama Inc.
3422 Georgia Pacific Ave.
Moblie, AL 36617

575-551
550-526, 525-501, 500-476, 475-451, 450-426, 425-401, 400-376
375-351, 375-351, 350-326, 325-301, 300-276, 275-251, 250-226, 225-201
200-176, 175-151, 150-126, 125-101, 100-76, 75-51, 50-26, 25-0