Benny Cenac and Main Iron Works Partner with Bisso Towboat

28 Aug Benny Cenac and Main Iron Works Partner with Bisso Towboat

Main Iron Works, a Louisiana shipyard owned by Mr. Arlen “Benny” Cenac, Jr., welcomes New Orleans based Bisso Towboat Inc. to Houma, Louisiana to partner together as they begin a new project with one another. This will be Main Iron Works 12^th tugboat that they have built for Bisso but the first of its kind.

Bisso Towboat Inc. awarded a contract to Main Iron Works with plans to build a new 100′, 6,008-hp Tier 4-compliant ASD tractor tug. Bisso Towboat Inc. granted the contract to Main Iron Works earlier this summer. Both Main Iron Works and Bisso Towboat Inc. agree that construction of the tug will begin late this summer along with a completion date of fall 2019.

“It will be very similar structurally and from a profile to our last new-build, Liz Healy, as the vast majority of the changes will be in the engine room for the SCR system and larger Z-drives and a larger bow winch and bow staple to accommodate the increased horsepower/bollard pull,” Scott Slatten, Bisso’s president, said in an email. “Beyond that, we were able to pretty much use our existing design with some minor changes in tankage and hull and the above.”

“We are proud to partner with Bisso as they build the most powerful ship-assist tug on the Mississippi River. This is an opportunity we are privileged to be a part of. It’s our 12th build for them and we look forward to many more. This is our first Tier 4 boat, and it’s always such a pleasure to work with Bisso, a longtime customer of Main Iron Works.” stated Mr. Cenac.

Stay tuned for updates along the way.  We are very excited to share the final images upon completion. To read more about this, please visit Workboat Magazine or Houma Today.  If you are interested in learning more about Main Iron Works visit our history page.