Two RAL-designed tugs delivered in Taiwan
24 Jan

Two RAL-designed tugs delivered in Taiwan

Tugboats & Towing
(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Two tugboats designed by Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL), Mailiao 1505 and Mailiao 1506, have been delivered to the Formosa Plastic Corp. in Taiwan by PaxOcean Engineering Pte. Ltd. The vessels were delivered in December and will be operated by the Mailiao Harbour Administration Corp., a subsidiary of Formosa Plastic Corp. These identical sister ships are 104-foot…
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Bay Shipbuilding begins construction of largest US-built LNG barge
11 Jan

Bay Shipbuilding begins construction of largest US-built LNG barge

Tugboats & Towing
(STURGEON BAY, Wis.) — Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding has started construction on the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering barge ever built in the United States. Bay Shipbuilding is expected to complete construction on the barge in late 2023 under contract with Crowley, the largest independent operator of tank vessels in the U.S. Crowley will operate the vessel under a long-term…
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Master Boat Builders begins construction of Crowley’s zero-emission tug
16 Dec

Master Boat Builders begins construction of Crowley’s zero-emission tug

Propulsion, Shipbuilding, Tugboats & Towing
(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) ­— Master Boat Builders has begun construction of Crowley’s eWolf, the first all-electric ship-assist tug in the United States, at its shipyard in Coden, Ala. "Initiating construction of the first-ever fully electric U.S. tugboat, the eWolf marks a historic moment for Crowley and Master Boat Builders,” said Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders. “Today (Dec. 6) is…
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Kirby to pay $15.3 million for damages resulting from Houston Ship Channel spill
02 Dec

Kirby to pay $15.3 million for damages resulting from Houston Ship Channel spill

Brownwater, Casualty News, Tugboats & Towing
(WASHINGTON) — Houston-based Kirby Inland Marine LP has agreed to pay $15.3 million in damages and assessment costs under the Oil Pollution Act to resolve federal and state claims for injuries to natural resources resulting from an oil spill from a Kirby barge, after a collision Kirby caused. The United States and Texas concurrently filed a civil complaint along with…
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Diesel-electric hybrid propulsion proves value for U.S. operators
30 Nov

Diesel-electric hybrid propulsion proves value for U.S. operators

Tugboats & Towing
It’s been more than two years since Harbor Docking & Towing Co. added its first diesel-electric hybrid tugboats. That decision has paid off in multiple ways for the Lake Charles, La., operator.   The Caterpillar hybrid system aboard Ralph and Capt. Robb delivers 91.5 tons of bollard pull while offering flexibility from different propulsion settings. The system is fully optimized for Harbor Docking’s…
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World’s first methanol-fueled towboat to launch in 2023
29 Nov

World’s first methanol-fueled towboat to launch in 2023

Brownwater, Maritime News, Propulsion, Shipbuilding, Tugboats & Towing
(SEATTLE) — Maritime Partners, in cooperation with Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), e1 Marine and ABB, has announced that M/V Hydrogen One, the world’s first methanol-fueled towboat, will join Maritime Partners’ fleet and become available for charter in 2023 to meet the pressing demand for sustainable towboat operations. Decarbonizing the towboat sector poses substantial challenges, particularly due to towboats’ inherent…
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Master Boat Builders, RAL develop new battery hybrid tug
29 Nov

Master Boat Builders, RAL develop new battery hybrid tug

Maritime News, Propulsion, Shipbuilding, Tugboats & Towing
(MOBILE, Ala.) — Master Boat Builders, together with naval architect and marine engineering firm Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL), has announced the creation of a new battery hybrid tugboat, the ElectRA 3000-H. This design has been developed over the past several months to suit the evolving needs of U.S. tugboat operators. “This unique hybrid tugboat design is the result of a…
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RAL, Svitzer sign design agreement for methanol fuel cell tugs
22 Nov

RAL, Svitzer sign design agreement for methanol fuel cell tugs

Climate Change, Maritime News, Propulsion, Shipbuilding, Tugboats & Towing
(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) and Svitzer have signed a design agreement for a new generation of methanol fuel cell tugboats. Utilizing a combination of fuel cells, batteries and electric propulsion in a new and unique towing configuration, this new tug will serve as a pilot project for future Svitzer newbuilds. The close cooperation between Svitzer and…
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Canadian Coast Guard adds fourth interim icebreaker to fleet
15 Nov

Canadian Coast Guard adds fourth interim icebreaker to fleet

Maritime News, Shipbuilding, Tugboats & Towing
(OTTAWA) — Following a competitive process, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has announced the purchase of a commercial light icebreaker from New Brunswick-based Atlantic Towing Ltd. This vessel will ensure that the Coast Guard retains its icebreaking capacity to keep vital shipping lanes open when the existing fleet enters planned maintenance periods. The vessel, currently designated Mangystau 2, was purchased…
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