Ship & Boat International eNews: September/October 2022
Alabama-based boatbuilder and aluminium craft specialist Silver Ships has delivered a hydrographic survey vessel to the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Venice Sub Office in Louisiana. The 15m vessel, Tobin, is reportedly the largest newbuild to date in Silver Ships’ Endeavour workboat class.
Named in honour of Thomas G. Tobin, a former Army Corps engineer, the boat has been custom-designed for the task of hydrographically mapping the mouth of the Mississippi River. Jason Powers, director of business development for Silver Ships, says: “Tobin will join a fleet that works year-round to provide river condition data to vessel operators…this data is essential to the safe and efficient transportation of goods up and down the Mississippi.”
Power is supplied by two Caterpillar C18 engines, each generating 597kW and compliant with EPA Tier 3 emissions requirements. This powerful output should enable the vessel to achieve speeds up to 28knots, even when up against strong currents, in order to prevent delays to the research. Additionally, a single Caterpillar C2.2 genset provides 25kW of electric power for the vessel’s onboard electrical needs.
Tobin’s inventory includes Teledyne’s Echotrac E20 system, which uses a single-beam transducer to map river depths and monitor water changes that could have a detrimental impact on marine navigation. Furuno supplied Tobin’s navigation and communication systems, and the boat is also fitted with Twin Disc gears and Michigan Wheel propellers.
