Case Study: Main Iron Works achieves flexible high-power pushboat performance with Cummins Z-drive propulsion

Main Iron Works - Customer Case Study

Main Iron Works, a builder of inland waterways vessels, needed a propulsion solution for a new series of pushboats that could deliver around 2000 HP while offering flexibility for rebuild and maintenance to meet EPA tier requirements. Cummins provided the engine package for the project, with the boats designed around Cummins 750 HP QSK19-M engines paired with ZF WMS5000 Z-drives.

Cummins’ solution was implemented on four 79.5-by-34-foot pushboats, each using three Cummins QSK19-M engines for a combined 2250 HP and improved maneuverability. The engines were mounted on the main deck to achieve a 10-foot operating draft, helping protect the drives and supporting inland-waterway operations; four boats—Jock Cenac, Eugenie Cenac, Jack G. Cenac, and Loretta G Cenac—were delivered, showing successful adoption of the Z-drive concept in the 2000-HP class.

Main Iron Works

Marc Molaison

General Manager