ESG Cuts Steel for Saltchuk Escort Tugs
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in December initiated steel cutting at its Allanton Facility for the first of four advanced escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2026. Over the last 20 years, ESG has successfully delivered 35 ship assist tugs. This new contract launches Saltchuk Marine’s comprehensive fleet renewal project, with the four escort tugs set to bolster West Coast port operations while meeting stringent EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) environmental standards.
ESG-built Saltchuk Escort Tugs at a glance …
Senesco’s Sixth CTV Set for Offshore Wind Service
Senesco Marine has launched its sixth Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), the WindServe Spartan, which will put to service for United States’ growing offshore wind industry. WindServe Marine, a sister company to the Rhode Island shipbuilder Senesco Marine – both part of the Reinauer Group – will operate the CTV. WindServe Spartan has capacity for up to 6 crew members and 24 passengers.
The Senesco-Built CTV WindServe Spartan at a glance …
Bisso Towboat Christens ASD Tractor Tug
Bisso Towboat Company christened the M/V Mr. Brian on December 5, 2024, on the Mississippi River while docked at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. The Mr. Brian is named after Brian Cyprowski, who is Bisso Towboat’s VP of Operations and a member of the company's executive team. Brian has been with the company for 37 years. With the addition of the Mr. Brian, Bisso is the only ship-assist company on the River with a daily operating fleet of 100% ASD Tractor Tugs. The Mr. Brian will have a crew complement of four.
The ASD Tug “Mr. Brian” at a glance …
ESG Delivers Long Island Ferry
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) announced the successful delivery of the LONG ISLAND, a newly constructed passenger and auto ferry, to the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a subsidiary of McAllister Towing. The vessel is designed to provide seamless transportation between Bridgeport, CT, and Port Jefferson, NY. The addition of the 302-foot LONG ISLAND will enable a consistent three-vessel schedule during peak travel periods, enhancing the capacity and reliability of service across Long Island Sound.
Historic Robinson Bay Tugboat Transferred to GLMA
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) has formally transferred the Robinson Bay tugboat to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. This celebrated vessel, originally built in 1958, will now serve as a training platform for the Academy’s maritime students, fostering the education of future mariners. At the ceremony, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent Jerry Achenbach, and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jon Hickey made remarks. GLS Administrator Tindall-Schlicht highlighted the importance of this donation, stating, “By placing this iconic tugboat in the hands of an institution dedicated to maritime excellence, we are ensuring that the Robinson Bay remains an active part of the Great Lakes maritime community, contributing to both its legacy and its future. We look forward to witnessing how the Academy utilizes this vessel to promote stewardship and education on the Great Lakes.”
ACL Announces More Newbuilds, American Legend Sea Trials
American Cruise Lines (ACL) has signed contracts for four new ships, bringing the Line’s total orderbook to 10 ships over the next three years. All the newbuilds are intended for the U.S. market. ACL will operate 21 small ships around the country next year. The 10 new ships begin with the delivery of American Legend, which has already passed sea trials. The remaining newbuilds on order will roll out every few months over the next three years. They include three riverboats and six additional coastal ships. The company operates the only 100% U.S. flagged fleet of riverboats and small ships in the world and is committed to introducing small ships built specifically for domestic cruising.
Burger to Build Passenger Vessel for Wendella Sightseeing
A state-of-the-art passenger vessel will be built with Burger’s renowned craftsmanship and precision engineering, delivering the highest standards of safety, performance, and comfort. The 89-foot vessel is designed to enhance Wendella's commitment to providing exceptional experiences on Chicago’s iconic waterways, accommodating a wide range of tours and private events. The new vessel is designed to align with Wendella’s mission of delivering a superior experience to tourists and event guests alike.
First U.S. Hybrid Waterjet Passenger Ferries Launched in Savannah, GA
Marine Jet Power (MJP) and Derecktor Shipyards announced the launch and christening of two passenger ferries for Chatham Area Transit (CAT) of Savannah, Georgia. These vessels represent a milestone as the first hybrid passenger ferries in the United States powered by waterjet propulsion. The two ferries, The Juliette Gordon Low II and The Susie King Taylor II, powered by MJP UltraJet 305 waterjets, incorporate cutting-edge hybrid technology. Operating on short, continuous routes between three local landings, these vessels are ideally suited for hybrid propulsion. The serial hybrid system allows for optimized power management, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact. This innovative combination, along with the inherent advantages of waterjets – shallow draft, exceptional maneuverability, and enhanced fuel efficiency – provides an unparalleled operational solution.
The hybrid Ferries at a glance …
Newbuild Tug Joins McAllister Towing’s Fleet
New-York-based McAllister Towing and Transportation Company has welcomed a newbuild tractor tug to its fleet under the name of Isabel McAllister. The christening and the launch ceremony for the newbuild tug took place earlier in January, according to an update shared by Brian Buckley McAllister, President at McAllister Towing. Built by Washburn and Doughty Associates, the tug is rated at 6,770 horsepower, boasting an 84 tons bollard pull. It is powered by two, Tier IV Compliant, Caterpillar 3516E engines, with an SRP 490 FP Z-Drives propulsion system supplied by Schottel. The vessel sponsor, Isabel Fitzsimons, is the Great Granddaughter of the legendary family matriarch Isabel “Belmar” McAllister. Isabel McAllister boasts capacity of 30,000 gallons of fuel, 4000 gallons of potable water, and 500 gallons of AFF foam. The vessel also features two John Deere 4045 AFM85 Tier III, 99 KW generators, with a 72 horse power Markey DEPCF-52 towing gear.
Damen Lays Keel for Four Fully Electric Ferries
Damen Shipyards in November laid the keel for the first two of four fully electric ferries for BC Ferries. The keel laying ceremony marked an important milestone in the third phase of construction of the Island Class Ferries, which will bring the total number of Damen vessels in the BC Ferries fleet to ten.
During the recent second phase of the program, Damen delivered four hybrid diesel-electric ferries. These reduced emissions vessels were intended to pave the way to the development of fully electric vessels. Now, with availability of renewable shore power to charge the vessels, the four fully electric vessels will be able to conduct their services with zero emissions. As such, the ferries are making an important contribution to BC Ferries’ goal to reduce emissions by 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. The vessels are based on the Damen RoRo 8117 E3 design. They will transport up to 390 passengers, together with up to 47 vehicles between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and Campbell River and Quadra Island. Damen will also supply BC Ferries with the charging facilities required to recharge the ferries’ batteries during (dis)embarkation.
Vancouver Welcomes Line Handlers to SAAM Towage Fleet
The new line handlers joining SAAM Towage Canada's fleet were unloaded at the Port of Vancouver on January 6th after completing their journey from Hong Kong. The new 14-meter vessels were designed by Mcduff Shipdesign. The names of the vessels, SAAM Lucille and SAAM Eriks, honor the company's history and inspire its employees through this story. Lucille is named after Lucille Johnstone, known as “Tugboat Annie”, an industry pioneer and driving force behind the company in the 70s and 80s as its executive director and president. The second vessel’s moniker is in homage to the Eriks family, especially John Eriks, who worked as a captain, dispatcher and trained generations of colleagues.
New Barge enhances Bunkering Service at Strategic Canadian Port
The port of Prince Rupert has recently welcomed the startup of Wolverine Terminals’ marine bunkering service for deep sea shipping, thus adding a key logistical capability to this strategic deepwater port on the west coast of Canada. Using a unique pair of barges designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Wolverine Terminals can deliver a wide range of fuels to suit the needs of vessels calling at the port, including marine diesel, heavy, intermediate, and other blends to individual customer specifications. Wolverine Spirit 1, the 142-meter long transloading barge, has been custom-designed to accept up to twenty-four rail tank-cars on deck. These are loaded using a marine rail ramp in Prince Rupert with maximum efficiency using four rail lanes with a pair of onboard turnouts (switches) – a novel arrangement on a rail barge. Combined with a high-performance ballasting system and Wolverine’s dedicated locomotive, this barge can onboard a full set of railcars during a single tide. Once loaded and secured, the Transloading Barge is moved using tugs from the loading ramp to the Wolverine Terminals project site, where once moored, the railcars can be drained into the barge’s hull tanks, which have a combined capacity of nearly 80,000 barrels of oil products. Wolverine Spirit 2, the 78-meter long lightering barge, receives fuels from the Transloading Barge, and is towed to client vessels in harbor where it delivers fuel to their individual requirements. With a capacity of approximately 30,000 barrels of products, this barge can efficiently deliver fuels to ocean-going vessels at up to 450 m3/hr. Both barges are fully compliant with Transport Canada regulations and are classed for their service with Lloyds Register. They are fitted with IMO Tier III compliant exhausts equipped with after-treatment, silencing for all diesel-fired machinery, vapor recovery for the cargo systems, and low-intensity lighting.
