DeJong & Lebet, Inc. and Ed Von Bergen have teamed up for another unusual ferry design. The 140’ x 30’ ferry M/V SHIRLEY IRENE was recently completed by Ocean Group Shipyard, Bayou La Batre, AL. She is powered by (4) Schottel steerable propeller units, (2) located at each end of the double-ended ferry, providing exceptional maneuverability. Hull side sponson and end boarding ramps increase her size to 170’ x 46’. She has a full Load Draft of 5’.

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DeJong & Lebet was able to keep the draft of the vessel to a minimum through the use of specially designed recesses for the propulsion units. Although these recesses are comparatively large, careful design procedures resulted in minimized effect on vessel speed and performance.

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The SHIRLEY IRENE is U.S. Coast Guard certified for 150 passengers. Her stability letter allows various combinations ranging from (4) fully loaded tractor trailers to 60 cars and 400 passengers — with a variety of school buses, inter—city buses, truck and car combinations in between. The vessel is also ABS classed.

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The vessel design features 360 degree pilothouse, hydraulic ramps at both ends for loading and unloading, and a single deckhouse for maximum free deck area. M/V SHIRLEY IRENE is fitted with full ballasting capability for operation with light deck loads. The main deck structure is specially designed to handle the heavy loads of construction equipment, with 1/2" deck plate and oversized framing.

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The vessel is powered by (4) Caterpillar 3406 TA diesel engines, rated for 365 HP 0 1800 RPM. Each engine drives one of the Schottel SRP 170/170 steerable propeller units, fitted with 43— 1/2" diameter bronze propellers. The vessel has (2) engine rooms, 1 forward & 1 aft.

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Electrical power for the vessel is supplied by a pair of Cummins 4B, 30 KW generator sets.

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The vessel will be operated in Ohio on Lake Erie by the Kelly’s Island Ferry Co.

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Major Suppliers for the vessel include:

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• Naval Architects    DeJong & Lebet, Inc. Jacksonville, FL

• Builder   Ocean Group Shipyard Bayou La Batre, AL

• Concept Design    Ed Von Bergen Pensacola, FL

• Main Engines   Thompson Tractor (Caterpillar) Mobile, AL

• Generator Engines  Cummins—Alabama

• Steerable Propellers  Schottel of America

• Pumps-Fire & Bilge    Berkley

• Electrical Panels   Con—Tech Power Systems

• Nay. Light Panel    J-Box

• Torsional Couplings  Kusel

• Universal Shafts   All—power Transmission

• Clutch—PTO    Twin Disc

• Fendering   Ultra-Poly

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The vessel made it’s delivery trip up the Tenn-Tom Waterway from Mobile, to the Tennessee River. She traveled the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois river systems through to Lake Michigan at Chicago. She then traveled through Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St.Clair, and Lake Erie to her homeport of Marblehead, Ohio. Her pilothouse was removed and later reinstalled after clearing the railroad bridges between Joliet and Chicago.