Southern Devall Adds Two 3,000 Hp. Towboats
Southern Devall has added two 3,000 hp. towboats, the mv. Wanda B and the mv. Marlee Mae Devall, to its fleet.
The additions strengthen the fleet and continue Southern Devall’s commitment to investing in modern equipment while honoring the people who have helped build its success, according to the company.
“A newer fleet is good for our customers, good for our crews and good for the environment,” CEO Kenny Devall said. “Every time we replace an older boat with a more efficient vessel, we’re improving reliability, reducing fuel consumption and taking another step toward building a more sustainable operation for the future.”
The boats were designed by John Bludworth Shipyard, with drawings by Advance Fabricating, Inc.
The Wanda B is named after recently retired Accounting Manager Wanda Broussard, who spent 29 years with the company and was instrumental in supporting the company’s operations and growth.
“Wanda represents what a true Southern Devall employee looks like — showing up every day, doing the work and staying committed through everything,” Devall said. “It’s the kind of dedication that doesn’t just keep things moving. It keeps our culture strong. Wanda’s legacy will always be a part of who we are, and we are proud to honor her decades of dedication with a new boat in our fleet.”
The second boat, the Marlee Mae Devall, reflects a Southern Devall tradition of recognizing employee tenure through vessel naming opportunities. New boats are typically named after the company employee with the greatest tenure, who may also choose to dedicate the vessel to someone meaningful in their life. Employee Brandon Devall selected the name Marlee Mae Devall in honor of his daughter, who recently graduated from Sulphur High School in Sulphur, La. She will attend Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, this fall.
Southern Devall said that the addition of the two towboats further enhances the company’s ability to provide safe, reliable marine transportation services while reinforcing the family-oriented culture that has defined the company for generations.
Vessel Specs
The mv. Wanda B is formerly the mv. Amy L. LaQuay, which was originally delivered from the shipyard in December 2011. The mv. Marlee Mae Devall is formerly the Timothy W. LaQuay, which was delivered in December 2012. Both are 84 feet long, 32 feet wide and have an 11-foot molded depth. Each has a pilothouse eye level of 34 feet.
The Caterpillar 3512C main engines provided by Holt Power Systems build a total of 3,000 hp. While the Wanda B’s engines are Tier 2, the Marlee Mae Devall’s engines are Tier 3. They turn heavy duty 82-inch, four blade Sound propellers provided by Texas Wheel Works Inc. The Wanda B’s have a 74-inch pitch, while the Marlee Mae Devall’s have a 60-inch pitch.
The boats are equipped with Twin Disc 5600 reduction gears. The Wanda B’s operates at a ratio of 5.04:1, and the Marlee Mae Devall’s at 5.76:1 The gears were supplied by Sewart Supply, Inc. Auxiliary power is supplied by John Deere 99kW generators from Stanley Parts & Equipment Company.
The TwinDisc EC-300 controls are by Sewart Supply, Inc. The electric over hydraulic steering system was provided by Skipper Engineered Products.
The boats have a fuel capacity of 38,000 gallons, along with 14,500 gallons of potable water, 300 gallons of lube oil and 200 gallons of gear oil.
The electronics package includes radar, radios, AIS and GPS provided by Premium Electronics. Laminated rubber fenders are from M&M Bumper Service, LLC.
On deck, each vessel is equipped with two 40-ton Patterson galvanized deck winches. Each also has two Quincy 325 air compressors, taking up the full width of the fleet deck forward of the main deck house.
Both the Wanda B and the Marlee Mae Devall have four staterooms containing a total of six berths.
Featured photo caption: Southern Devall has added two 3,000 hp. towboats to its fleet. The mv. Marlee Mae Devall is named after the daughter of employee Brandon Devall. (Photos by Michael Huerta/Southern Devall)
