Towboats

TVA Orders 1,500 hp. Towboat From Serodino Inc.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has ordered a 1,500 hp. Super Tiger Class Subchapter M-certified workboat from Serodino Inc. This will be the fifth Serodino vessel to be placed into TVA service.

The 60- by 24- by 8-foot hull, with 5-foot, 9-inch draft, is constructed of half-inch plate throughout. Transverse framing is 5- by 3- by 3/8-inch on 24-inch centers. The inside motor mounts are continued fore and aft as solid sheets to divide the hull into three collision compartments, three fuel tanks (9,500 gallons), engineroom, three water tanks and six stern compartments. All void tanks have high-level alarms with bilge piping. Schuyler rubber tow knees and perimeter fenders protect the hull.

Power consists of two Cummins QSK-19-M engines, developing a total of 1,500 continuous hp. at 1,800 rpm, with Twin Disc MG-5222, 4.03 to 1 reverse and reduction gears turning 5-inch sleeved shafts and 52- by 44-inch four-blade Michigan Wheel propellers. Two 40-kW John Deere MDDCA light plants furnish auxiliary electric power. Fernstrum zero knot coolers are built into the hull.

The superstructure is constructed of 3/16-inch plate with 2-1/2- by 2-inch angle framing. Watertight doors on the main deck are furnished by Dale’s Welding with upper deck aluminum doors by Omega Products. All quarters are insulated, paneled, heated and air conditioned, and they have poured rubber floors.

The first deck contains a galley and a modest head with shower and a U.S. Coast Guard-approved marine toilet and H20 sanitation system. The second deck is to be used as a storage area. The pilothouse, with a 28-foot eye level, will control all aspects of the vessel operations with Skipper follow-up lever controls and toggle back-up separately operating the four flanking and two main rudders. The Morse throttle controls, two radios, a radar, AIS, multiple alarm systems and interior cameras complete the control and information center.

The vessel is under construction with completion and delivery expected in early 2021.