Professional Mariner – American Ship Review 2025

State of Shipbuilding: Year at a Glance

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivered the 100-passenger American Eagle to American Cruise Lines. The ship is the first in a new series of “Coastal Cat” vessels featuring a hybrid catamaran hull form. Bollinger Shipyards began cutting steel at Bollinger Mississippi for the future USCGC Polar Sentinel, which will be the first heavy icebreaker built in the United States in a half-century. September…

The State of Shipbuilding: Passenger vessel construction bounces back after pause during Covid years

Innovation, pent-up demand and a desire for low-emission vessels drive new orders Uncertainty in the passenger vessel market during the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the flow of vessels entering service in recent years. But the situation has begun turning around. Despite economic headwinds, consumers are opening their wallets. They are commuting to the office again. They are…

The State of Shipbuilding: Pasha’s embrace of cleaner fuels goes beyond LNG

Hawaii-focused shipping firm modernizing steamships to run on the cleaner-burning fuel Pasha Group, the U.S.-flag shipping firm that specializes in Hawaii-to-U.S. trade routes, is committed to liquefied naturas gas (LNG) as a fuel source. In addition to its two newly built vessels that have primarily run on LNG since they first entered service, the firm based in San Raphael, Calif.,…

2025 Ship of the Year: ECO Edison

ECO Edison sets a new standard for American-built offshore wind ships Edison Chouest Offshore has done something remarkable in American shipbuilding: It designed, built and is now operating an entirely new vessel type for the Jones Act market. The 262-foot ECO Edison is the first-ever U.S.-flagged service operations vessel purpose built for the offshore wind industry. The steel-hulled ship was…

Delphinus ‘a good chess piece’ for SF Bay Ferry service

Delphinus The San Francisco Bay Ferry service has added a second Dorado-class ferry to the fleet that has the speed, size and capacity to operate on all of its routes. The 129-by-34.5-foot Delphinus entered service in March 2024 following delivery from Mavrik Marine, based in La Conner, Wash. One2Three Naval Architects designed the sleek, low-profile ferry, which is owned by…

Empire State VII leads a new generation of maritime training ships

EMPIRE STATE VII Adecade ago, the training ships at America’s six state maritime academies (SMAs) were generally old, repurposed vessels. Some were really old, such as the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College’s 1962-era Empire State VI, a converted cargo ship that had seen 60 years of service when it was stricken in 2022. Of course, old didn’t…

Clean, green research vessel fits right in at University of Vermont

Marcelle Melosira The people of Vermont have a well-earned reputation for environmental stewardship, so it’s only fitting that the state’s flagship university is operating one of the first hybrid research boats in the United States. The 64-by-19-foot Marcelle Melosira arrived in downtown Burlington, Vt., near the University of Vermont (UVM) campus last summer following delivery from Derecktor Shipyard of Mamaroneck,…

WindServe Marine builds versatility into growing CTV fleet

WindServe Marine was an early adopter in the offshore wind sector. After three deliveries within the last year, its fleet of crew transfer vessels (CTVs) has grown to four with two more on the way. The three 88.5-by-29.5-foot (27-by-9-meter) CTVs WindServe has added to the fleet are WindServe Genesis, WindServe Journey and WindServe Explorer. Each was designed by BMT and…

Quick and comfortable Chugach Express carries passengers deep into Prince William Sound

Chugach Express Chugach Express is a fast, fuel-efficient catamaran for Alaskan glacier tours. From its anti-fog passenger windows to its waterjet propulsion system, it’s designed to comfortably transport passengers deep into Prince William Sound. “We have really great performance out of this vessel. She exceeded all our estimates,” said Ron Wille, president and chief operating officer of All American Marine, the…

Maine State Ferry Service adds sturdy, modern vessel for its longest route

FERRIES AND EXCURSION The Maine State Ferry Service has added a new vehicle ferry to its fleet that honors a member of the Penobscot Nation who served as a combat medic on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. The 104-foot-by-28-foot Charles Norman Shay arrived in Rockland, Maine, in June 2024 following delivery from Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La…