Laborde Powers Mvs. Beth Williams And Deirdre Ann

Laborde Products has powered two new Maritime Partners towboats—the mv. Beth Williams and mv. Deirdre Ann—with Mitsubishi Tier 3 engines designed for reliable inland service.

The mv. Beth Williams, a twin-screw towboat built for the New Orleans-based company, is fitted with two Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 main engines with 803 hp. each, at 1,400 rpm. It is also equipped with two Laborde generator sets at 65 kW.

According to Laborde, the vessel was designed with its final use primarily in mind. Propulsion and auxiliary power were priorities, and decisions regarding engine speed, horsepower and electrical capacity were made to align with needs of a vessel used for consistent inland towing work.

“The goal is that boat crews can run confidently and keep moving,” said Chris Miller, director of newbuild programs at Maritime Partners. “This build focused on getting the machinery right so the vessel is set up to do its job without unnecessary complexity.”

Laborde coordinated directly with FMT Shipyard & Repair, Harvey, La., during the vessel’s construction to ensure its engines and generators were precisely integrated and aligned with the vessel’s specifications and overall function. Laborde described the FMT’s process as straightforward and stated that the Beth Williams was constructed to be a durable, accessible vessel for long-term service.

“A big part of this build was choosing equipment crews are already comfortable with,” said Bradley Matte, Gulf Coast territory sales manager at Laborde Products. “The S6R2 is a compliant, mechanical engine that’s well known on the waterways and easy to support in service.”

Laborde also announced that the mv. Deirdre Ann, also built for Maritime Partners by FMT, was recently put into service. Just like the Beth Williams, the vessel is fitted with twin Mitsubishi S6R2 Tier 3 engines from Laborde.

“When one of our vessels goes to work, operators need power they can trust,” Miller said. “The S6R2 gives us the performance profile we want, and Laborde gives us the local support that keeps downtime to a minimum. That combination lets our customers take delivery of a boat that is ready to work from day one.”

According to Laborde, the S6R2 engines are specifically designed to deliver consistent power to working vessels, with strong low-end torque and a manageable fuel curve for long working rotations.

“For a vessel expected to stay on the move, the combination of reliable engine performance and Laborde’s regional support network positions the Deirdre Ann for dependable uptime during its first years of service,” said Laborde.

“The Mitsubishi S6R2 is well suited for pushboats that need consistent power at working speeds,” said Matte. “It delivers strong torque, predictable fuel performance, and straightforward maintenance, which helps vessels like the Deirdre Ann stay available and productive over the long term.”

Featured image caption: The mv. Dierdre Ann, a Maritime Partners towboat powered by Mitsubishi engines from Laborde Products. (Photo courtesy of Laborde Products)