Amherst Madison’s M/V Alabama Receives New MTU Power

Welcome to Amherst Madison’s M/V Alabama workboat; also known as the “Sweet Home Alabama” to the crew. Amherst Madison has been plying the great Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, pushing barges with their workboats since 1893. Charlie Jones (President of Amherst Madison) made a command decision to repower the Alabama in April 2014, with a pair of the new MTU 8v4000M54r EPA Tier-3, each rated at 1,000 HP at a low 1600 RPM, matched with the tried and true Twin Disc 540 gear package. Jones based his decision upon the 5% reduced fuel consumption of the 8v4000M54r’s compared to the Cummins Tier-3 QSK-38 alternative, superior service and parts support from Western Branch Diesel/MTU and upgrading to the current EPA Tier-3 emission requirements. The propulsion engines that were replaced with the MTU’s were the legendary 2-cycle Detroit Diesel 16v149′s that gave Amherst Madison good performance for many years. With Western Branch Diesel providing sales, service, and parts support as diesel propulsion engine specialists to the commercial marine market since 1946 and Amherst Madison providing inland waterway workboat services since 1893, this is the beginning of a wonderful working relationship. Roll it on the river!