HFL Takes Delivery Of Two New Towboats
Nashville, Tenn.-based Hines Furlong Line Inc., in the headlines recently for having entered into an agreement to acquire the river division of Campbell Transportation Company, has added two new vessels to its managed towboat fleet. The fast-growing company recently took delivery of the mvs. Sawtooth and Oxford.
Built by Eymard Marine Construction & Repair Inc. on a design by Entech, the 1,600 hp. Sawtooth measures 67 feet, 6 inches by 28 feet, with a depth of 9 feet, 6 inches and a design draft of 7 feet, 9 inches. The pilothouse provides an eye level of 29 feet, 10 inches. The Sawtooth is powered by a pair of Mitsubishi S6R2 Tier 3 diesel engines supplied by Laborde Products. Resting on Christie & Grey resilient mounts, the engines turn 72- by 64-inch Hung Shen propellers on 7-inch cold rolled shafts with Wartsila seals and bearings.
The vessel’s Reintjes WF570 marine gears (5.381:1) are from Karl Senner LLC. Two Fiat generators provide the Sawtooth’s 65 kw. of auxiliary power. Inside the hull is tankage for 18,400 gallons of fuel, 4,360 gallons of water, 435 gallons of lube oil and 277 gallons of gear oil. The grid coolers from Fernstrum are recessed in stainless steel cooler boxes. There is a 48-point alarm and monitoring system.
The boat contains four bunkrooms with double bunks and two shared heads. On deck are two 40-ton Patterson winches. The boat’s communication and navigation equipment package includes two Furuno River Radars with a Nauticamp 19-inch display. Fendering is by Schuyler.
The new boat is named for the Sawtooth mountain range in Idaho. It is the second of seven towboats that Eymard is building for Hines Furlong.
Mv. Oxford
The mv. Oxford, also designed by Entech, is the second of four Hines Furlong towboats to be constructed by Intracoastal Iron Works, Bourg, La. A triple-screw 2,400 hp. towboat with four decks, the Oxford measures 78 by 34 by 10 feet with a draft of 7 foot, 9 inches. The Oxford is powered by three Mitsubishi S6R2 Tier 3 diesel engines from Laborde.
The engines turn 72- by 64-inch Hung Shen props on 7-inch shafts with Wartsila seals and Thordon bearings. Reduction is 5.381:1 via Reintjes gears. The boat can carry 28,000 gallons of fuel when fully loaded.
The vessel’s auxiliary power is provided by Fiat 65 kw. engines. The boat is equipped with Duramax engine and gear coolers, water jackets and after-coolers housed in stainless steel cooler boxes. Pneumatic Specialties installed the electric over hydraulic steering system. All vessel functions are monitored by engine alarms and fire detection systems.
The vessel has air-conditioned and heated crew accommodations for seven crewmembers in five staterooms and three full bathrooms and a half bath. The deckhouse features poured floors, FRP and Marlite paneling and acoustic ceiling tiles throughout. All exposed exterior walls and ceilings of the living quarters were first coated with Mascoat thermal insulating paint and subsequently with foil-backed mineral wool insulation. The boat’s hull is fully protected by M&M marine fendering with all stainless steel hardware and mounts. On-deck features include two 40-ton Patterson deck winches, kevel chocks and roller buttons. For maximum crew comfort, the vessel is equipped with a spacious first deck lounge and a separate workout room.
The boat is named after Oxford, Miss., a city from whence Furlong’s fiancée hails and that is home to the University of Mississippi, where she attended college.
‘Wonderful Shipyards’
Karl Morley, who oversees Furlong’s new towboat construction as well as its bareboat fleet of towboats, complimented both shipyards.
“The Vigueries of Intracoastal Ironworks and the Eymards both operate wonderful shipyards,” Morley said. “And just as important, they are exceptional people—professional, dependable and a pleasure to work with personally. The pride and attention to detail are clearly reflected in every vessel produced by these two family-owned shipyards.”
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Featured photo caption: A profile of the mv. Sawtooth, a new towboat that Eymard Marine Construction & Repair built for Hines Furlong Line. (Photos by Karl Morley)
