Metal Shark Delivers Towboat

Metal Shark’s Alabama Shipyard in Bayou La Batre recently delivered its third 120- by 35-ft river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, Louisiana, WorkBoat reported. The four-decked, welded-steel, U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M-compliant towboat Gianna Hull was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates Inc. of Hingham, Massachusetts. Its twin Caterpillar marine diesel engines deliver more than 2,000 hp each and turn 100- by 69-in. stainless steel propellers. Sleeping accommodations and facilities for a nine-person crew are onboard. The new vessel concludes Metal Shark’s contract with FMT announced in late 2018 following Metal Shark’s acquisition of the assets of Horizon Shipbuilding earlier that year. With the purchase, Metal Shark assumed ownership of the fully developed shipyard and began its expansion into steel shipbuilding, refit and repair. This was a diversion from its core business of building welded aluminum vessels. Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard commented, “Over the past three years, we have seen our Alabama yard flourish with a succession of impressive new builds and growing activity in the refit, repair and conversion business, as we take on increasingly complex hull lengthening and vessel conversion projects….”