Metal Shark Alabama completes first towboat newbuild

Metal Shark Alabama, Bayou La Batre, Ala., shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’x35′ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.

The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter M-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates Inc.

The vessel’s twin Caterpillar 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2,011 hp each at 1,600 rpm and turn 100″x69″ stainless steel propellers through Twin Disc model MGX-5600DR reverse reduction gears with a 6.56:1 ratio. Sleeping accommodations and facilities have been provided for a nine-person crew.

The new towboat is the first delivery in a three-vessel contract with FMT announced in late 2018, signaling Metal Shark’s entry into the inland towboat market following its acquisition of the assets of Horizon Shipbuilding earlier that year. With the purchase, Metal Shark, best known as a builder of welded aluminum vessels, assumed ownership of a fully developed 35-acre Alabama shipyard and began to expand into steel shipbuilding.

Metal Shark has significantly grown its Alabama operations since acquiring the yard. Under the direction of company VP Doug Barrow, formerly the general manager of Great Lakes Towing Co. and Great Lakes Shipyard, and new construction manager OW Brown, Metal Shark Alabama has grown from the 23 original employees acquired in the 2018 purchase to over 150 employees today.

Multiple steel vessels are currently under construction at the yard, including two additional 120’x35′ towboats for FMT, as well as a 70′ steel Z-drive tugboat for North Carolina DOT. Metal Shark Alabama is also highly active in the vessel refit and repair sector, with several projects typically underway at any given time.

“Since 2018 we have invested in our Alabama operations by growing our workforce, engaging new clients, and implementing Metal Shark’s well-proven serialized construction methodologies,” Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard said in a statement announcing the delivery. “Today as we celebrate the delivery of our first Alabama-built vessel, our first steel new build, and our first inland towboat, I’d like to thank our employees, and particularly our customer Mr. Dennis Pasentine, owner of Florida Marine Transporters. We were fortunate to earn his business and I am proud of our relationship, which is one I hope to continue well into the future.”