Florida Marine Christens Five More Boats - March 19, 2008
As if christening five boats at once last November weren’t enough, Florida Marine Transporters did the same thing March 19. Only this time it was in New Orleans—not Houston, where the company operates more vessels. Freeing up five boats for a christening in New Orleans was much trickier, said Louis Develle, FMT’s operations manager.
“The dispatchers did a great job positioning the boats so they could all be here at the same time. It was a monumental task. The port captains, electricians and carpenters deserve credit, too, for sprucing up the boats and getting them ready for the christening,” he said. Because of the high water, building the ramps from the wharf at the Hilton Riverside Hotel to the boats was particularly challenging.
Develle is still waiting to hear from The Guinness Book of World Records to see if the first event merits a listing. Now, he can strengthen his case.
Florida Marine, based in Mandeville, La., has christened 19 of the 23 identical towboats they have received so far from Eastern Shipbuilding Group. The company has ordered 35. They are being launched at a rate of one a month.
The latest five to be christened are the mvs. Brian O’Daniels, Bill Tullier, Capt. Timmy Callais, Sawyer William and Keith Gelvin. Another christening, for three boats, is scheduled for later this year.
