Sidney Candies – Naida Ramil – Laura L. VanEnkevort
1994-Present
Articulated Tugboat, Bludworth Coupler; Paired with Barge Joseph H. Thompson
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1994
Builder: Halter Marine, Lockport, LA
Hull #1383
Registry: 1020314
IMO #8875310
Laid Down: —
Launched: —
Commissioned: April 29, 1994
Paired Barges:
Construction
The Sidney Candies was constructed in 1994 by Halter Marine at their Lockport, Louisiana, shipyard, for Otto Candies Inc. She was similar to many other Otto Candies tugs, with a large towing winch aft and a small pilothouse with two large stacks on either side.
Modifications
- Elevated pilothouse installed, 1998.
- Fitted with Bludworth style ATB connection system, Bender Shipyard, Mobile, Alabama, 2004.
- Rebuilt for use on Great Lakes, Gulf Marine Repair, Tampa, Florida, 2019.
General Stats
Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: 690′
Length Overall [Tug]: 118’08”
Breadth: 37′
Depth: 18’04”
Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: —
Engine Model: —
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 7000 BHP
History
Lineage
Sidney Candies {2} – 1994-1998
Owner: Otto Candies, LLC, Des Allemands, LA
Operator: Otto Candies LLC
Flag: United States
Home Port: New Orleans, LA
Naida Ramil – 1998-2002
Owner: Gulfcoast Transit Co., Tampa, FL [Tampa Electric (TECO)]
Operator: Gulfcoast Transit Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Tampa, FL
Naida Ramil – 2002-2008
Owner: Tampa Electric Co., Tampa, FL
Operator: Tampa Electric Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Tampa, FL
Naida Ramil – 2008-2018
Owner: U.S. United Ocean Services, Tampa, FL
Operator: U.S. United Ocean Services
Flag: United States
Home Port: Tampa, FL
Laura L. VanEnkevort – 2019-Present
Owner: VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, MI
Operator: VanEnkevort Tug & Barge
Flag: United States
Home Port: Escanaba, MI
Her Story
The Sidney Candies was constructed in 1994 by Halter Marine at their Lockport, Louisiana, shipyard, for Otto Candies Inc. She was similar to many other Otto Candies tugs, with a large towing winch aft and a small pilothouse with two large stacks on either side.
In 1998, the Sidney Candies was sold to Tampa Electric Company’s subsidiary Gulfcoast Transit, being renamed Naida Ramil. She was fitted with an elevated pilothouse and paired with the barge Peggy Palmer.
On October 11, 1999, the Naida Ramil suffered a major engine room fire, requiring a tow back to port for repairs.
Gulfcoast Transit was reorganized as TECO Ocean Shipping in 2002, with the pair remaining under their ownership and operation.
In 2004, the Naida Ramil was fitted with a Bludworth style Articulated Tug-barge connection system by the Bender Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. In 2007, she was sold to the United Marine Group. Operation of the tug and barge was taken over by their subsidiary, U.S. United Ocean Services. The Naida Ramil and her barge Peggy Palmer had been laid up most of the 2010’s, and it was believed they carried their final cargo in 2011. United Marine Group was purchased by International Shipholding Corporation in 2013. International Shipholding went bankrupt in 2017.
In 2018, the Naida Ramil was purchased by VanEnkevort Tug & Barge of Escanaba, Michigan, being renamed Laura L. VanEnkevort. She was taken to Gulf Marine Repair in Tampa, Florida, where her lower pilothouse was reconstructed as living quarters, her upper pilothouse raised, and her stern rebuilt. The tug was outfitted to handle pushing VanEnkevort’s barge Joseph H. Thompson.
The Laura L. VanEnkevort departed Tampa on August 23, 2019, arriving at Toledo, Ohio, on September 9, 2019, where she took over as primary push tug for the barge Joseph H. Thompson, relieving the tug Joseph H. Thompson Jr. The barge had been retrofitted with a Bludworth receiver over the winter of 2018-2019, making her capable of being pushed by the Laura L. VanEnkevort.
The Joseph H. Thompson / Laura L. VanEnkevort continue to be an active member of the VanEnekvort Tug & Barge fleet, serving the ore and stone trades.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on July 6, 2020
Gallery
Sources
Hynes, Tom. “Laura L. VanEnkevort”. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 6 July 2020. http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/LauraLVanEnkevort.htm
Pennock, Isaac. “Laura L. VanEnkevort”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats. N.d. Accessed 6 July 2020. https://gltugs.wordpress.com/laura-l-vanenkevort/
Shipwatcher News Great Lakes Ships 