Blessey Christens The Mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong

New Orleans-based Blessey Marine Services officially christened the mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong on January 14 at the company’s WEB Fleet facility in Channelview, Texas, marking a milestone for the family-owned operator as it welcomed its first Tier 4-compliant vessel into a fleet now numbering more than 85 boats. The ceremony brought together company leadership, mariners, shipyard partners, vendors, Coast Guard representatives and family members to celebrate both a technological step forward and the career of a captain whose story reflects the values the company was built on.

“This is meaningful for us as a family and as a company,” said company chairman and founder Walter E. Blessey, Jr. “When you look at how far we’ve come since 1978, to stand here today with our first Tier 4 vessel in a fleet of 85 or 86 boats—it’s really significant.”

Blessey reflected on the company’s origins, recalling his decision to pivot from oil trading into vessel operations after realizing the lifestyle was unsustainable.

“We’ve come a long way through the last almost 50 years that we’ve been in operations,” he said. “We’re proud of what this company has become.

“We’ve always believed in independence and disciplined reinvestment,” Blessey added. “This vessel is a continuation of that philosophy. We’ve focused on building new boats and equipment in a way that preserves long-term stability and control. Today is a reminder that our growth has come from patience, reinvestment and thinking long-term, not chasing short-term gains.”

Clark Todd, president of Blessey Marine, said the vessel carries meaning beyond its technical specifications.

“This christening, for us, is meaningful,” Todd said. “It’s meaningful for us as a family, for a company, and I know it is for our partners as well.”

He noted that, while the company recently took delivery of another new vessel, the Capt. Daniel Armstrong stands apart.

“This is our first Tier 4 vessel, and that’s a big step for us,” he said. “In a fleet of more than 85 boats, this one is special.”

Todd described the company’s entry into Tier 4 propulsion as a learning process that required close collaboration.

“When Brian Laborde and I sat down and started putting the puzzle together, we talked about what this really meant for Blessey and for our customers,” he said. “This was our first venture into the Tier 4 world.”

He thanked the team at Laborde Products and Mitsubishi Engines for their guidance.

“While this isn’t their first rodeo, it was ours,” Todd said. “They helped guide us through every step of it.”

Todd also highlighted the ongoing partnership with Port Arthur, Texas-based Vessel Repair, which built the Capt. Daniel Armstrong.

“This is our fourth vessel with Vessel Repair,” he said. “Kurt [Moerbe] and I have had a lot of conversations over the years about how to make each vessel better than the last. Somehow, Kurt and his dad, Ron, and the entire group at Vessel Repair always seem to figure out a way.”

While acknowledging that another recently delivered vessel became part of the fleet, Todd said the mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong is unique in its symbolism.

“This vessel is different,” he said. “It’s about honoring someone who’s been with us for 27 years and represents what we want our captains to be.”

The vessel’s namesake, Capt. Daniel Armstrong, started in 1997 with Kirby as a deckhand, before quickly advancing to tankerman. He then joined Blessey Marine in 1999 at the age of 26 as a tankerman. Over nearly three decades with Blessey Marine, Armstrong worked his way from pilot to lead captain, earning respect for his leadership style and loyalty to his crews. Armstrong is now at the helm of the mv. Ray Chief Toney and the father of six children—five daughters and one son. Outside of work, his hobbies include restoring old cars, off-roading, cooking and barbecuing and enthusiastically taking part in whatever adventures his children and grandchildren dream up.

Todd shared a story during the ceremony that he said captures Armstrong’s character.

“It was winter—32 degrees, miserable weather,” Todd said. “Daniel had his crew out on the barge tying up.”

When radio calls went unanswered, Armstrong suddenly appeared behind them on the gangway.

“He was soaking wet, in a short-sleeved shirt, doors to the wheelhouse wide open,” Todd said. As the crew protested, Armstrong replied, “I’m with y’all, and I’m not going to let you guys be out here all alone.”

Todd said the moment summed up what the company looks for in its captains.

“No matter the conditions, Daniel’s going to be out there with his guys,” he said.

When Armstrong took the podium, his remarks were brief and understated.

“When I was hired here in 1999, I never imagined standing here today with a vessel carrying my name,” he said. “Back then, I was just looking for steady work, a good crew and a way to support my family.”

What he found at Blessey Marine became far more than a job, he said.

“Blessey gave me opportunities, lifelong friendships and a place I’m proud to call home,” Armstrong said.

He credited his crews for any success he achieved.

“A captain is only as good as the crew he has on deck,” Armstrong said. “I was lucky to work with some damn good crew members.”

He also thanked company leadership for their trust.

“Walter, Clark—thank you for the opportunity, the support and the faith you’ve shown in me over the years,” he said.

Addressing his family, Armstrong acknowledged the sacrifices that come with working on the waterways.

“Thank you for putting up with the long hitches, the missed holidays and the important things in life,” he said. “Having a boat named after me is something I’ll carry with pride the rest of my life.”

He added, “I don’t have fancy degrees, but this is my college degree.”

Todd also recognized the many suppliers involved in the project, thanking Laborde Products, Marine Systems, Karl Senner LLC, Wood River Electronics, Baton Rouge Marine Electric and Hiller Systems for their contributions. He gave special credit to the Blessey Marine and Vessel Repair teams who worked through the final weeks before the christening.

“When I got the call that we were still at the shipyard the week before the ceremony, that’s not the call you want,” Todd said, “but our teams worked literally tirelessly to get this vessel ready.”

Among the guests at the christening was U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Nicole Rodriguez of Sector Houston-Galveston. Todd and Blessey both expressed appreciation for the Coast Guard’s service.

“You don’t hear a lot about them in the news,” Todd said. “We are extremely grateful for the job they do every single day.”

Speaking for Vessel Repair, Kurt Moerbe said the christening reflected the strength of the relationship between the two companies.

“We’ve had a relationship with Blessey for decades, but in 2020 it really took another step into new construction,” Moerbe said. “That relationship has grown into something that makes it comfortable to stand up here today.”

He added, “They’ve taken chances with us that not everybody would, and we’re forever grateful for that.”

Wrapping up the ceremony, Chaplain Nancy Simpson with Seamen’s Church Institute offered remarks and blessings, presenting a Bible to Armstrong and a Merchant Marine flag to the vessel’s crew.

As the mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong officially enters service, it does so as both a technological milestone and a tribute to the people behind Blessey Marine’s success.

“This vessel represents where we’ve been and where we’re going, and we couldn’t think of a better name to put on the side of it,” Blessey said.

Vessel Specifications

The mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong is a twin-screw inland towboat built on Vessel Repair’s Pacesetter class design. The boat measures 84.5 feet by 32 feet by 11 feet and is powered by twin Mitsubishi Tier 4 diesel engines rated at 1,260 hp. each. Laborde Products supplied the main engines, which turn four-blade 85-inch by 60-inch propellers from Baumann Propellers through Reintjes WAF 665 reduction gears from Karl Senner LLC. The vessel is fitted with 8-inch shafts from R.C. Schmidt & Sons Inc., Rivertough bearings and TG100 shaft seals from Thordon Bearings and a Sim Vue engine alarm system from Baton Rouge Marine Electric.

Marine Systems Inc. supplied the Capt. Daniel Armstrong’s John Deere 4045AFM85 generators, each rated at 99 kw. Tankage includes 15,077 gallons of fuel, 377 gallons of lube oil, 3,105 gallons of potable water and 1,571 gallons of diesel exhaust fluid. Steering is electric-hydraulic by Custom Hydraulics, wastewater treatment is by Seahorse, and deck equipment includes two winches and one capstan. East Park Radiator supplied the DuraWeld keel coolers. M&M Bumper Service installed fendering for the vessel.

Accommodations include five bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath with a lounge. The vessel’s electronics package includes Raymarine Pathfinder radars, Furuno AIS and satellite compass, depth sounder and Standard Horizon VHF radio, all integrated by Wood River Electronics and Raymarine Inc. Fire protection and suppression are by Hiller Systems Inc., and sound and vibration reduction are from Christie and Gray engine isolators.

The mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong will operate under the command of Capt. Cory Moore with Ricky Brown, Travis Lee and Eugene McGuire serving as tankermen and Brennan Smith and Kendrick Bester as deckhands.

Featured image caption: The mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong moored at Blessey Marine Services’ WEB Fleet in Channelview, Texas. (Photo courtesy of Merit Media)