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News Bollinger Repowers, Modifies 40-Year-Old Tug Bollinger recently gave new life to an old boat, the 150-ft. Guardian, original- ly named Gale B., which was built by Southern Shipyard in 1963. It was owned by Midland Enterprises and was part of a tug/barge unit with the hopper barge Martha B. Midland sold the barge to Moran about three years ago and the tug was on the market when it was acquired by Velvet Maritime. LLC. "It was in good shape with a good purchase price," said Andre Ledoux, president of Velvet Maritime. "It had marketable power that we wanted to upgrade to meet new regulatory requirements, prac- tically new Lufkin gears, a good Detroit Diesel auxiliary engine package, good Markey deck equipment, a raised pilot- house and was not undersized or over- sized for blue water operations." In choosing the yard, a long-term relation- ship helped seal the deal. "My dad. Raymond Ledoux is a 33-year veteran of the marine business. He has had many vessels serviced at several of Bollinger's repair yards and has an excellent, long- term business relationship with Bollinger's Dave Marmillion. That, and Quick Repair's location on the Harvey Canal ... was very advantageous to us." Bollinger Quick Repair dry docked the tug and began the task of repowering. The engine foundations were modified to accommodate two new owner-sup- plied Caterpillar 3606 diesels develop- ing a total of 4640 hp that were mated to the boat's Lufkin gears with a ratio of 5.818:1. The port & starboard tail shafts were reconditioned and ABS inspected. While other work was under way. Bollinger's propeller shop reconditioned the port and starboard propellers by fairing up all blades, welding nicks and cracks, check- ing and correcting pitch, grinding, bal- ancing and polishing all blades. Steering rudders, bulwarks and rub rails were cropped and sections of the port and starboard ballasts were renewed as necessary. Sea valves were removed, inspected and replaced and the sea chest screens were replaced after cleaning and paint- ing. The engines cooling water system was upgraded with two new Fernstrum cool- ers with Bollinger built cooler guards. M/V "Guardian" Specifications Length/Beam/Draft 150 ft./35 ft./17 ft. Height of Eye 41 ft. Highest Fixed Point 66 ft. Main Engines (2) CAT 3606 BHP 4,640 hp @ 900 rpm Gears Lufkin RS4200S/5.818:1 Generators (2) 100 KW Delco Generator Engines (2)8V71 Detroit Diesel Winch Markey Wire 2,400 x 2.25 Flag U.S. Home Port New Orleans Official Number 292748 Year Built 1963 Year Re-powered 2004 Builder Southern Ship GRT/NRT 289/119 Classification ABS + A-1 Towing Service Circle 305 on Reader Service Card Circle 264 on Reader Service Card 14 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
