Vulcan Materials Christens The Mv. Larry Gravely
Vulcan Materials, a construction aggregates company based in Birmingham, Ala., christened the new mv. Larry Gravely on April 3 in a ceremony held at the company’s shipyard in Norfolk, Va. The vessel is named after Larry Gravely, marine operations coordinator at Vulcan Materials. He will be retiring this summer, effectively closing out a 47-year career.
The ceremony was well attended by Vulcan employees and members of the Coast Guard, as well as friends and family. Gravely’s daughter, Jessica, and granddaughter, Olivia, broke the champagne bottle.
Gravely began his river career in 1978 as a deckhand with Lone Star Industries Inc., which was bought by Tarmac America in the 1980s. He earned his captain’s license in 1981 and eventually became port engineer.
“Back then, everybody had a boat license,” Gravely said. “They said I would be more viable as a port engineer working on the boats. They said, ‘We’ll pay you fifty cents more an hour than a boat captain,’ and I said, ‘I’ll take it!’
In 1986, Gravely was made port captain, and in 2000, Tarmac America’s aggregates division was bought by Vulcan Materials. In 2005, Gravely was made marine operations coordinator, the same position he will soon be retiring from. When asked about Vulcan, Gravely said it’s been his favorite of the three companies he’s been with.
“I’ve been there for 26 years, and it’s been the best company I’ve worked for,” Gravely said. “It reminds me of a family business. They’re down to earth and a good company to work for. You don’t find many of them anymore. Everybody is out to make a profit. That’s what makes the world go around, but it takes good people to make good profit.”
Gravely attributed his success at Vulcan Materials to his hands-on approach and dedication to those who worked with him.
“You’re only as good as the people that work under you,” Gravely said. “You treat them the same way you like to be treated, and you go a long way. Maybe that’s why I’ve been so successful since 2005. I won’t ask any of my employees to do anything I wouldn’t do, and I jump in there and do it with them to help them anytime I can.”
Gravely was set to retire earlier this year, but chose to stay with Vulcan a few months longer to see through the construction of the Larry Gravely. Through the entire process, he didn’t know the vessel’s future name.
“We had to keep that name under wraps as long as possible,” said Adam Hutchinson, general manager at Diversified Marine. “He was my point of contact. It was difficult to keep that secret as long we could.”
Gravely remembered the confusion with humor, and he said he’d found it strange to be kept in the dark about the boat’s name.
“I looked at Adam and I said, ‘Did they name these boats yet?,’ and he never answered,” Gravely said. “About thirty minutes later I asked him again, and he looked at me and said, ‘Yeah. I’m sworn to secrecy.’”
Gravely said he was stunned when he eventually learned the vessel he was overseeing would be named in his honor.
“I didn’t expect it,” Gravely said. “Normally boats get named over here after division presidents or someone who’s passed away. So, I reckon I’m the only one who isn’t the president of a company, and I’m surely not dead yet!”
The mv. Larry Gravely is the first vessel Diversified Marine has constructed for Vulcan Materials. It is also the first brand new Vulcan towboat; before the Larry Gravely, all of Vulcan’s vessels had been owned by others first.
“I’d recommend anyone to work with [Diversified Marine],” Gravely said. “They’re as fair and honest as the day is long.”
Diversified Marine, a marine manufacturer based in Bourg, La., is currently finishing a second build for Vulcan, a sister ship to the Larry Gravely. It is set to be completed July 1.
The Larry Gravely measures 72 by 30 by 10 feet with a near 32-foot eye level and a design draft of 8.5 feet. According to Gravely, the vessel was originally going to be smaller.
“I said I wanted it 67 feet with a 28-foot beam and an 8.5-foot draft,” Gravely said. “[Hutchinson] calls me back up and says, “Hey Larry, how about I built it 72 feet by 30 feet wide and 8.5 feet draft for the same price?’ And I said, ‘Go with it!’”
The vessel is powered by twin Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 engines supplied by Laborde Products, each rated at 803 hp. at 1,400 rpm. The engines are paired with Twin Disc MGX5321 gears at a 5.96:1 ratio. John Deere supplied two PE4045TFM85 generators rated at 99 kw.
“The S6R2 is a workhorse platform for inland service,” said Bradley Matte, sales representative at Laborde Products. “It’s a familiar engine in this class, and we’re glad to see it going into a newbuild that’s built to stay busy.”
Hutchinson explained that the Larry Gravely’s interior is what sets it apart from other Diversified Marine vessels. The company took care to design the inside to be as comfortable as possible.
“The boat has a much warmer feel,” Hutchinson said. “We worked to take away the ‘work boat’ look. It has a very homey feel. Our goal for these two boats particularly was to give the crew a sense of home. That way, when they’re on board, it doesn’t feel like they’re on a workboat.”
The Larry Gravely boasts oak-stained cabinetry, finished granite countertops and laminate flooring. With five bedrooms and three bathrooms, the new towboat can serve as a home away from home for six Vulcan crew members and one pilot.
“Diversified builds beautiful boats,” Gravely said. “Even all the tug boat companies that came over here and saw it said they’d never seen anything that nice. She’s got a galley you can roller skate in. It’s roomy.”
Featured photo caption: Vulcan Materials christened the mv. Larry Gravely on April 3, welcoming its first ever new build vessel. (Photos courtesy of Vulcan Materials)
