61
JULY 2026
B
reaux Brothers Enterprises Inc., 
shipbuilders based in New Ibe-
ria, La., turned over the hull of 
a new hybrid-electric tour boat under 
construction for Port Houston.
The 73ʹ aluminum catamaran is 
scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 
will be used for public maritime edu-
cation and industry awareness tours of 
the Houston Ship Channel. With a ca-
pacity of 150 passengers, the new ship 
holds 60 more guests than the vessel it 
will replace. 
By constructing the hull of the Sub-
chapter T vessel upside down, weld-
ers were able to work more easily on 
the outer plating. With that stage of 
construction complete, cranes were 
used to lift the hull and rotate the 
structure. The next phase of the build 
will include installation of the hybrid 
propulsion system, plumbing, and the 
interior passenger spaces.
Fellow PVA member Incat Crowther 
designed the newbuild which will be 
equipped with a Twin Disc battery hy-
brid propulsion system featuring two 
265-kW propulsion motors that will 
drive fixed-pitch propellers through 
Twin Disc MGE-5065 SC gearboxes. 
The vessel will have a maximum speed 
of 12 knots.
The vessel’s energy storage system 
has a capacity of 768 kWh which al-
lows the ship to run solely on battery 
power during its standard two-hour 
educational tours. Not only does this 
mean lower emissions, but it will also 
offer a quieter ride for an enhanced 
guest experience. Custom shoreside 
charging system equipped with AC/
DC converters will be used to re-
charge the vessel between trips. To 
ensure reliability and extended range 
when needed, the vessel will also in-
clude two Caterpillar C9.3 backup 
generators, each producing 300 kW, 
for added operational flexibility. 
In addition to lowering emissions, ac-
cessibility was a core focus for the de-
sign of the new build. The main deck 
will feature seating for 68 passengers, 
including two wheelchair-accessible 
spaces, within an air-conditioned 
cabin that also includes a kiosk, an 
information counter, and four bath-
rooms. The upper deck will seat 81 
passengers, with about 90 percent of 
seats covered. Its layout supports easy 
movement and accessibility, while 
the large wheelhouse on the upper 
deck offers the captain and crew full 
360-degree visibility.
MEMBER NEWS
Breaux Brothers Flips Hull 
of Hybrid Tour Boat

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