Steiner Construction Delivers New Towboat to Terral RiverService
On December 28, 2025, Steiner Construction Co. from Bayou La Batre, Alabama, announced the successful delivery of the 88-foot triple-screw towboat, *Grant Gattle*, to Terral RiverService (TRS) based in Lake Providence, Louisiana. This vessel is the second of its kind delivered to TRS in 2025, following the earlier handover of the *Charlotte Gattle*. Both towboats were constructed by Steiner and designed by naval architect Tom Farrell of Farrell & Norton Naval Architects, located in Newcastle, Maine.
Farrell noted that this was his first collaboration with Terral RiverService, having been introduced to the company through the shipyard. The design of the *Grant Gattle* presented unique challenges, particularly due to its retractable pilothouse, which limited available space. “We worked extensively to use all the space efficiently,” Farrell explained. The vessel’s design also required careful consideration of its lines and production, with extensive shaping of the propeller tunnels, bilges, and bow and stern rakes.
Technical Specifications and Operational Capabilities
The *Grant Gattle* is powered by three Mitsubishi S6R2-Y3MPTAW-3 engines, each generating 800 horsepower at 1,400 RPM. These engines drive 76″x53″ Sound propellers through Twin Disc MGX-5321DC marine gears, which feature a reduction ratio of 4.96:1. The towboat has a draft of 8 feet 6 inches and is designed to operate primarily along the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as the Atchafalaya and Red rivers, serving as a secondary towing vessel for TRS.
In terms of power generation, the vessel is equipped with twin John Deere gensets, each capable of producing 99 kW of electrical power. The control systems are provided by Twin Disc, while the steering system is manufactured by Custom Hydraulic Components from Harvey, Louisiana. The pilothouse lift system is supplied by Gulf Coast Air and Hydraulics in Mobile, Alabama, and the electronics suite features products from Furuno.
The *Grant Gattle* boasts impressive capacities, including 34,400 gallons of fuel, 10,600 gallons of potable water, 1,650 gallons of lube oil, and 200 gallons of hydraulic oil. The vessel is designed to accommodate a crew of six. While many inland towboats may appear similar externally, Farrell emphasized that the internal and deck configurations can vary significantly. He noted that future designs will be influenced by the preferences of owners and operators, as advancements in propulsion options continue to evolve and become more competitive in pricing.
