Chem Carriers LLC, Sunshine, La., christened its new 82'×28'×10' double-deck Z-drive towboat Capt. Robert J. Banta in Houston on Aug. 21. Designed by Chem Carriers' Harvey Landry, the vessel has a 8'6" draft and features a retractable wheelhouse. It will move petrochemical barges on the inland waterways system. Capt. Robert Banta said that it's unusual to see a tow-boat of this size with two decks. "It's the only one that I know of," he said prior to the christening. "It's got two decks for more crew." The boat has accommodations for 12 but will probably carry 10 crew, Banta said. Main propulsion comes from two Cummins QSK 38 die-sels, producing 1,000 hp at 1,800 rpm each. The engines connect to ZF 5000 Z-drives. Ship's service power is the job of twin John Deere powered gensets, sparking 99 kW of electrical power each. Capacities include 21,500 gals. of fuel and 560 gals. lube oil.
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