Laborde Marine Management LLC, New Orleans, announced in July the creation of a new affiliate, LabMar Inland LLC that will focus on the U.S. inland marine market, providing towing and pushboat services.
The initial vessel to be placed in service will be the 78'x34'x10' Ivy Steiner, a new 2,000-hp pushboat. The company intends to expand its presence in the inland marine market, using the same management techniques used to grow Laborde Marine.
“We are very pleased to announce our entry into the inland marine market through our new affiliate, LabMar Inland LLC and our initial charter of the Ivy Steiner. We intend to grow this new facet of our operations with additional towing and pushboat vessels, which is a natural extension of our many years of
Built by Steiner Construction, Bayou La Batre, Ala., with an 8'6" maximum draft, the Ivy Steiner's main propulsion comes from twin Caterpillar C32 diesel engines each producing 1,000 hp at 1,800 rpm. The Cat engines connect to stainless steel props through Reintjes WAF reverse reduction gearboxes supplier by Karl Senner LLC, Kenner, La. The propulsion package gives the new piushboat a running speed of eight knots.
"LabMar Inland is bareboat chartering the Ivy Steiner. This arrangement allowed us to take delivery of a new vessel immediately and to best respond to the demands of our customers," Laborde told WorkBoat. "We plan on growing LabMar Inland and will consider doing so through additional bareboat charters, new construction programs, or by acquiring existing fleets."
Laborde Marine Management owns or operates a fleet of 21 vessels which service the offshore oil industry and other marine support activities.
"Our management and business development teams have been following the inland market, especially the lower Mississippi region, for several years. We made several steps towards entering the market over that period, but for a variety of reasons, we elected to hold off," Laborde said. "Although costs are at an all-time high for new vessels, we see charter rates adjusting to levels that support the higher construction costs. We also have the advantage of having excess crew capacity by drawing from our various operating arms. Between our offshore and ferry divisions, we have a number of crewmembers that have previous inland experience, a strong working knowledge of the industry, the appropriate licenses and endorsements, as well as a desire to help the company form a new division."
On deck are two 40-ton capacity Nabrico DF-1-40H winches.
Accommodations include three single-person rooms and two two-person rooms.
The electronics suite is made up of two Furuno DRS6AX radar and Furuno loudhailer, FA 170 AIS, and GP39 GPS. Standard Horizon supplied the four VHFs.
Ship's service power is the responsibility of two John Deere-powered gensets, each sparking 65 kW of electrical power.
"We’re in discussions now with multiple customers, several of which we have long histories with on the upstream side of their businesses, to provide barges, and will consider growing that division through the same avenues we’re considering utilizing to expand the vessel fleet," Laborde said.
LabMar officials is not affiliated in any way with Laborde Products Inc., a third-
"As of now our focus is on the lower Mississippi, but we would certainly be open to expanding our geographical footprint in the future," Laborde said.
LabMar Ferry Services LLC is an affiliate of Laborde Marine Management, and operates a ferry service in the New Orleans area, which includes two ferry lines, on behalf of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority.
