Lucinda Smith is a green machine

The jointly owned company has three tugs that do coastal towing as well as providing support for marine construction. They also have a Tier 2 compliant Cummins-powered crew boat that does standby and transport work for dredging and construction work. With this diversity there is always a project underway.

Most recently has been the repower of their tug Lucinda Smith, which represented a major investment. The couple went to the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans with the idea of deciding on engines. By the end of the show they were convinced to go Tier 2 after talking to both manufacturers and some of their own customers. It made sense based on the cost and time implications of doing a major repower, and it would be a benefit to their customers having a tug with such low emissions on the jobsite.

After looking at the options they ended up at the Cummins stand, where the QSK 38 fit their needs with regard to power, support and, crucially, availability.

Despite the difficulties for a small fleet taking a vessel off line, work progressed well over the summer, with Boothbay Harbor Shipyard doing the welding and supplying other services while the regular crew did the installation.

Built at Universal Iron Works in 1975 the Lucinda Smith is 81.4 by 28 feet with an 11.7-foot moulded depth. An elevated wheelhouse has been added to make pushing barges more effective.

When it retuned to work with the new Tier 2 engines the 33 year old boat will be as green as any of the new tugs that are coming out of the yards. For Interport Towing & Transportation customers up and down the Atlantic seaboard this can be a real bonus.