Professional Mariner – December 2026

MarAd ends first NSMV activation, returning Empire State VII to SUNY

The first federal activation of a new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) ended before its planned mission got underway, with the training ship Empire State VII expected to return to SUNY Maritime College after several weeks in Norfolk, Va. The Maritime Administration (MarAd) activated the 525-foot vessel in early September for an undisclosed mission supporting Military Sealift Command. The deployment…

Wind-assisted propulsion moves toward scale

After years of gradually moving from prototypes to commercial installations, wind-assisted propulsion systems may be entering another phase: scaling up. A recent wave of investments, orders and shipbuilding partnerships is expanding their commercial footprint across a widening range of vessels. Chinese wind-assisted propulsion company Dealfeng recently raised 30 million yuan, or about $4.2 million, from marine equipment manufacturer Headway Technology…

McAllister adds sixth tug in seven-vessel series

One of the nation’s oldest towing companies is continuing to modernize its fleet with a new generation of high-horsepower, low-emission tractor tugs. McAllister Towing recently took delivery of Mary McAllister, the sixth in a seven-vessel series built by Washburn & Doughty Associates in East Boothbay, Maine. The tug is ultimately bound for Port Everglades, Fla., after entering service with the…

Maritime Partners launches third tug in eight-vessel series

Maritime Partners is continuing to expand its tug fleet with the launch of the third vessel in an eight-tug newbuild program at Master Boat Builders. Defiant was launched in August at Master Boat Builders’ shipyard in Coden, Ala. The 88-by-43-foot tug is based on Robert Allan Ltd.’s RApport 2700-MP design, one of several established tug designs developed by the naval…

Bipartisan bill would extend foreign income tax break to U.S. mariners

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced legislation that would allow qualifying U.S. merchant mariners working aboard U.S.-flag vessels in international trade to exclude a portion of their income from federal taxation. The American Mariner Tax Fairness Act, introduced in August by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., would extend the existing foreign earned income exclusion to U.S. mariners who spend…

Sacramento sheriff adds Moose Boats patrol catamaran

A new patrol boat built in the San Francisco Bay Area will help law enforcement crews remove sunken boats and vehicles from waterways around California’s capital. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office recently took delivery of a 38-foot M2-38 catamaran built by Moose Boats of Vallejo, Calif. The vessel will support patrol and dive operations on the Sacramento and American rivers…

Study finds widening gap between seafarer training and real-world competency

A new study has found a widening gap between seafarers’ formal qualifications and their ability to handle the increasingly complex demands of modern vessel operations, as digital technology transforms the maritime workplace. The research, conducted by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius on behalf of Lloyd’s Register-owned maritime software provider OneOcean, found that just 18 percent of maritime professionals surveyed believe current…

Maritime security threats mount from Somalia to Strait of Hormuz

After nearly a decade of decline, piracy off Somalia resurged in 2026, adding another threat to commercial shipping already contending with continuing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region said in late September that five crewmembers aboard the hijacked fuel tanker Honour 25 were killed before security forces retook the vessel. The tanker, carrying 18,500 barrels…

Ethanol enters the marine fuel mix

A fuel long associated with cars and trucks is finding its way into the tanks of oceangoing ships as operators explore whether ethanol can broaden the fuel options available to alcohol-capable marine engines. Maersk bunkered the dual-fuel containership Tangier Maersk with 100 percent U.S.-produced bioethanol in Houston, marking what the carrier described in a late-September announcement as the first ship-to-ship…

Propulsion technology evolves to meet changing demands

As the maritime industry explores alternative fuels, manufacturers are continuing to refine the systems that generate power and propel vessels. From variable-speed generators to innovative thruster and propeller designs, the latest developments promise improvements in efficiency, maneuverability and performance, with benefits that depend on each vessel’s design and operating requirements. In August, Rolls-Royce expanded its mtu Series 2000 line of…