Mv. Colton James was built by Intracoastal Iron Works.
December 26, 2016
By H. Nelson Spencer
E-Squared Marine Service LLC, the Friendswood, Texas, towboat and barge company run by Travis Elam and Tommy Echols, recently put a new towboat into service, the mv. Colton James. It is the first newly built vessel for the young company. The other six boats—the mvs. Irene C, Kami Renee, Kennedy Grace, Lincoln Thomas, London Renee and Sherry L—have all been either purchased or leased within the last two years.
Designed by Entech and built by Intracoastal Iron Works in Bourg, La., the new twin-screw towboat measures 78 feet by 34 feet with a 10-foot draft and a pilothouse eyelevel of 33 feet, 5 inches. The shipyard delivered it to E-Squared Marine November 11.
The main engines are Cummins QSK38 models that deliver a combined 2,000 hp. The engines turn Sound 76- by 68-inch propellers on 7-inch shafts with Simplex seals and Johnson bearings. Reduction is 7:1 via Twin Disc 540 gears from Sewart Supply. The engines are cooled by grid coolers from East Park Radiator and monitored by alarms from Unlimited Control. The electronic-over-hydraulic steering system was furnished by Engine Monitor Inc.
Within the hull is tankage for 28,000 gallons of fuel, 13,914 gallons of potable water, 858 gallons of lube oil and 500 gallons of dirty oil. The hull is protected by wrap-around M&M bumpers.
Two 65 kw. Cummins generators provide ship’s service for the new vessel, which has five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one half-bath. All of the accommodations are fully air conditioned and heated, and sound proofed with mineral wool insulation. In addition to a lounge equipped with a sofa and TV, there is an exercise room. Spanish cedar trim and cabinetry highlight interior spaces.
The pilothouse features two Furuno FR8065 radars with a 4-foot array from Rhodes Electronic Services. Deck equipment includes two 40-ton Nabrico winches. The boat is trimmed with the company’s distinctive blue and green colors, and displays the unique E-Squared logo on its stacks.
The new boat is named for Colton James Childers, a deceased four-year-old son of a family friend of Elam’s. “Last year at Christmastime, Colton lost his battle with liver failure,” said Elam. “It is our honor and privilege to have a boat in our fleet named after our superhero.”
Commenting on the newbuild, Elam said he couldn’t be happier with the way the boat turned out. “Peter and Ray (Viguerie) at Intracoastal are such great people and have an incredible operation,” he said, adding, “The boat is a very nice addition to our fleet.”
Original article: http://www.waterwaysjournal.net/Magazine/ThisWeeksTopNews/E-SquaredAddsFirstNewTowboat.aspx