| The Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) Ken Boothe Sr. and Lakes Contender preparing to unload cement (or some related material) at LaFarge North America, Superior, as seen from the Vista Star during Vista Fleet's Grand Sightseeing Tour of the Duluth & Superior Harbor at Duluth, MN on 25 Jun. '16. The facility is serviced by BNSF. The Ken Boothe Sr. measures 135'-4" long, 50' beam, 18'-11 1/2" draft, 10,800 h.p., and can sustain 12 knots when the barge is loaded. It was named in honor of the former president of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, Erie, PA, where it was completed in Feb. '11. The Lakes Contender, a self-unloading bulk cargo barge, was completed at the same shipyard in Apr. '12 and is 740' long, 78' beam, 30' draft, capacity of 34,000 tons. The combined cost was $50 million, both are owned by Seajon. Additional information about the harbor cruise can be found at http://www.vistafleet.com/. |