Blessey Marine Honors Longtime Captain With Namesake
Blessey Marine recently christened the mv. Capt. Joey Anderson, honoring Capt. Joey Anderson for 26 years of service with the company and marking the return to service of a refurbished towboat originally built in 2011.
The ceremony brought together Anderson’s family, fellow mariners, company leaders, vessel crew members, vendors and friends of Blessey Marine. Clark Todd, president and CEO of Blessey Marine, opened the ceremony by making clear that the day belonged to Anderson.
“Joey, this is your day,” Todd said. “On behalf of Walter Blessey, his daughters and our entire Blessey Marine organization, thank you so much for your 26 years of service with our company. This is your day. It’s all about you.”
Todd recognized Southwest Shipyard for its work on the vessel, noting that the shipyard’s relationship with Blessey Marine extends well beyond the most recent refurbishment.
“For more than 30 years, our partners at Southwest Shipyard have been more than just a vendor,” Todd said. “They truly are friends. It’s a partnership and a relationship that goes far beyond the metal and steel work.”
Todd also thanked Blessey Marine’s maintenance department, including Ron Fogan and his boat team, along with the vessel crew, for preparing the boat for the christening. He also recognized vendors involved with the vessel’s systems, including Cummins Marine, Karl Senner, Wood River Electronics, Baton Rouge Marine Electric, Hiller Offshore and Web Engines.
The crew of the mv. Capt. Joey Anderson includes Capt. Kenneth “Tex” Porter, Relief Capt. Don Candy, pilot Andrew Metzger, tankerman Michael Plum and tankerman Joshua Miller. Todd noted that Plum is approaching 20 years of service with Blessey Marine.
Anderson, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn., and now lives in Mississippi, joined Blessey Marine in 1999 as an engineer. Todd recalled Anderson’s early reaction to Blessey’s vessels, saying Anderson was impressed with the condition of the fleet. Todd said that level of care reflects not only company investment but also the pride of the crews who maintain the boats.
Todd also thanked Anderson’s wife, Fetina, and his children, Tyler, Tanner and Tatum, for sharing him with the company and the waterways. Two of Anderson’s sons have followed him into the Blessey Marine family. Tyler serves as pilot aboard the mv. Laura Blessey, while Tanner serves as a deckhand aboard the mv. Jimmy Warren.
“We’re incredibly honored and proud to have you guys as second-generation Blessey Marine mariners, following in your father’s footsteps,” Todd said.
While Todd joked about Anderson’s love of fishing, he returned repeatedly to Anderson’s reliability and quiet professionalism.
“Joey is one of these guys: he shows up to work, he’s always on time, he never misses his flights, he does his job and he stays under the radar,” Todd said. “Those are the best employees, 100 percent. That’s why today is all about Joey.”
Todd said Anderson had waited 26 years to see his name placed on the side of a Blessey Marine vessel.
“You’ve waited 26 years to get your name on the side of one of our vessels, and we couldn’t be more proud of you,” Todd said. “Hopefully, for the next 30 or 40 years, this vessel will be running the waterways with Capt. Joey Anderson on the side.”
Chaplain Nancy Simpson, chaplain for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Gulf Coast and river ministry, offered the vessel blessing. Simpson said she had previously visited Anderson aboard the boat and was pleased to be part of the christening.
“Capt. Joey, I thank you for your leadership and dedication working on the waterways, with all that entails,” Simpson said.
Simpson prayed for the vessel, its crew and their families, asking for safe and productive service on the nation’s waterways. She also presented a Bible for the mv. Capt. Joey Anderson.
Anderson then addressed the crowd, saying the christening was a meaningful moment in his career.
“Today is a very special moment,” Anderson said. “I am truly honored to be part of this christening event. I do so with great pride and gratitude.”
Anderson said his 26 years with Blessey Marine have shown him the meaning of family values within a company.
“Throughout those years, this company has shown me what it truly means to operate with strong family values,” Anderson said. “Here at Blessey, we work as a team, supporting one another.”
For Blessey Marine, the christening of the mv. Capt. Joey Anderson was both a fleet milestone and a personal tribute to a mariner whose career has been marked by loyalty, consistency and quiet professionalism.
Vessel Specs
The mv. Capt. Joey Anderson was originally built in 2011 by Sneed Shipbuilding. The 72- by 30-foot towboat is powered by a pair of Cummins QSK19 main engines, producing a combined 1,350 hp. The engines are paired with Reintjes WAF 364 reduction gears with 6:1 ratios, supplied by Karl Senner. Auxiliary power is supplied by Cummins 6BTA generator engines. The vessel has R.C. Schmidt & Sons shafts, Thordon TG100 seals and Rivertough bearings from Thordon. Its propellers are four-blade stainless steel wheels measuring 68 by 52 inches from Baumann Propellers.
Tankage includes 24,396 gallons of fuel and 216 gallons of lube oil. The vessel features grid coolers for the mains and channel coolers for the generators, electro-hydraulic steering, Sim Vue engine alarms from Baton Rouge Marine Electric, a Seahorse wastewater treatment system, CO2 fire suppression, M&M Bumpers fendering and Hempel coatings from Coating System Solutions. The refurbishment work included work done at Southwest Shipyard, along with upgraded electronics through Wood River Electronics and Raymarine. The vessel’s electronics package includes Raymarine radars, a swing meter, satellite compass, VHF radios and weather stations. Accommodations include four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Featured photo caption: Capt. Joey Anderson and guests gather aboard the mv. Capt. Joey Anderson during the vessel’s official christening. Blessey Marine named the towboat in honor of Anderson’s 26 years of service with the company.
