Repower of the M/V Capt. Robert J. Banta completes Chem Carriers’ transition to an all Mitsubishi-powered fleet with Laborde Products-supplied engines.
Sunshine, Louisiana – May 2025 – Chem Carriers has completed the repower of the M/V Capt. Robert J. Banta, marking the final vessel in its current fleet to be powered by Laborde Products-supplied Mitsubishi engines. The twin-screw towboat is now running on twin Mitsubishi Tier 3 S12R-Y3MPTAW engines, each delivering 1,260 horsepower at 1,600 RPM.
Originally built in 2015 by Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana, the 78-foot Capt. Robert J. Banta previously operated with Cummins QSK38 engines. With this repower, Chem Carriers’ entire 15-vessel towboat fleet now runs exclusively on Mitsubishi power.
“Seeing Chem Carriers complete their entire fleet with Mitsubishi engines is a milestone we’re proud to have supported,” said Brian Laborde, President & CEO of Laborde Products. “For operators like Chem Carriers, moving to a common engine platform is about simplifying operations, crew training, and parts management across every vessel.”
“We’ve seen the reliability from these engines over the years, and bringing the last vessel over to Mitsubishi just makes sense for us,” said Frank Banta Jr., Managing-Owner at Chem Carriers. “Now our crews, maintenance team, and parts inventory are all on the same page, which makes day-to-day operations that much smoother.”
Chem Carriers has been a leader in inland liquid marine transportation since 1994, with a fleet of 15 towboats, 54 inland tank barges, and a 100-barge capacity fleeting service at mile 207 on the Mississippi River.
About Laborde Products
Laborde Products is a commercial marine engine distributor specializing in repowers, new vessel builds, and auxiliary power systems across the inland river and Gulf, and East Coast markets. Representing Mitsubishi, Scania, Steyr, and Yanmar (government applications), Laborde focuses exclusively on helping operators maximize uptime, extend vessel life, and simplify engine solutions with a customer-first approach. Learn more at labordeproducts.com.
