FMT Shipyard delivers two towboats to Maritime Partners

The twin-screw vessels are each powered by two Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 main engines, rated at 803 horsepower at 1,400 rpm. The Beth Williams is also fitted with two generator sets rated at 65 kW to support onboard electrical loads.     The vessels were designed for inland towing operations, with propulsion and auxiliary systems selected early in the build process to align with expected duty cycles and operating conditions. The configuration reflects a focus on reliability, accessibility and ease of maintenance.

“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.”

Maritime Partners said the selection of the S6R2 engine platform was based on long term operational considerations, including consistent power delivery and service support.      “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.”

Laborde Products worked with the shipyard during construction on engine application and system integration. The company said the S6R2 engine is widely used in inland service and is familiar to operators.      “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.”

The Deirdre Ann has entered service, while the Beth Williams was recently completed. The additions are part of Maritime Partners’ ongoing investment in inland vessels designed for operational consistency and long term service.