Professional Mariner – December 2025

Shaver’s new compact, powerful ship-assist tug

A 145-year-old family-owned maritime transportation company in Portland, Ore., will soon be adding a new West Coast-built and -operated ASD tug to its fleet. In October, Shaver Transportation Company was preparing to take delivery of Heather S, a 79-by-40-by-17-foot RApport 2500 ASD tug designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and purpose-built for ship assist and escort work on the Columbia River.…

Arc, Curtin Maritime to build 8 hybrid-electric tugs

A collaboration of West Coast builders and operators is set to deliver the largest-ever fleet of electric workboats. Arc, an electric boat company, announced a $160 million contract for eight hybrid-electric ship-assist tugboats for Curtin Maritime. Both companies are based in the Los Angeles area. “Built in collaboration with Snow & Co. shipyard, the project marks the largest commercial deployment…

ZF Marine builds on a mature technology

A German propulsion systems company has unveiled a new pod propulsion system for commercial and recreational vessels up to 150 feet. ZF Marine has introduced the POD 4900, which offers an ambitious power envelope and opening designs for larger commercial vessels that might previously have relied on conventional shaftlines or hybrid arrangements. The POD 4900 is compatible with engines up…

St. Johns gets 3-barge contract from Johnson Bros.

A Florida Gulf Coast shipyard known for its growing portfolio of commercial and government projects landed a new contract to construct three steel material barges for one of the nation’s leading infrastructure builders. St. Johns Ship Building of Palatka, Fla., announced in early October that it will build three 140-by-40-by-8-foot deck barges for Johnson Bros. Corp., a division of Southland…

Rolls-Royce MTU Series 4000 engines to power forthcoming Catalina Express ferry

One of the top global suppliers of high-speed marine engines has been selected by a California ferry line to power a new vessel. Rolls-Royce was selected by Catalina Express to power its forthcoming 160-foot ferry expected to be delivered in 2027. The 500-plus-foot passenger vessel will be powered by four MTU 12V 4000 M65L Tier 4-certified engines, delivering a combined…

RAD Propulsion opens U.S. office, eyes stateside electrification surge

A United Kingdom-based marine technology firm specializing in electric drives and control systems has formally launched a U.S. presence, placing itself closer to American builders and operators seeking to electrify their fleets. RAD Propulsion has opened an office in Charleston, S.C., as part of a broader expansion into the U.S. market, the company announced in late September. The move complements…

Everett Ship Repair expands with new dry dock Hercules

A Pacific Northwest shipyard known for its work on commercial and government vessels has added major new capacity with the arrival of the floating dry dock Hercules — now the largest dry dock in Puget Sound. In September, Everett Ship Repair (ESR) said the 820-foot dock, with a lifting capacity of 35,000 light tons and an inside beam of 135…

Marine propulsion market poised for steady expansion through 2031

Growing demand for efficient, lower-emission engines across global shipping and shipbuilding is propelling a decade of expected growth in the marine propulsion sector. New data shows the market’s total value reaching an estimated $16.2 billion in 2024 with forecasts pointing to nearly $22.1 billion by 2031 for an annual growth rate of 4.5 percent, according to a report released in…

Nuclear power gains steam as regulators eye maritime use

As new generations of nuclear reactors emerge, momentum is building to modernize the regulatory framework that could bring atomic propulsion to commercial shipping. Over the past year, international nuclear and maritime regulators and national leaders have taken meaningful steps toward clearing a path for nuclear propulsion in commercial shipping. At the same time, private companies are developing advanced marine reactors…

Two decades on, Tier 4 compliance is still evolving

In 2004, Twitter, YouTube and the iPhone did not exist, and Taylor Swift and Katy Perry both signed their first contracts with major record labels. Yet U.S. maritime industries — and some others — are still struggling to meet emission standards finalized that year. The Environmental Protection Agency mandated a set of standards known as Tier 4, the fourth regiment…