Professional Mariner – October/November 2023

Jane McAllister now on duty at Norfolk

The tug Jane McAllister is the latest addition to McAllister Towing’s fleet. The new tractor tug was recently delivered from Washburn & Doughty and has taken up station at her homeport of Norfolk, Va. The construction of the tug was overseen by Engineering Manager, Martin Costa. Jane McAllister “will not only meet, but exceed the needs, handling the ever-increasing…

Crowley charters Tier 4 tug for POLA, POLB service

Crowley has entered into its fourth long-term charter for its newest Tier 4 ship assist tug, Artemis, with Brusco Tug & Barge. The powerful, state-of-the-art vessel “reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability while providing high performance,” according to Crowley. The 77-foot Artemis will deliver 7,000 horsepower with two Caterpillar Marine 3516 Tier 4-compliant engines that meet all U.S. Environmental Protection…

Moran Towing, Master Boats, Robert Allan collaborate on new tugs

New Canaan, Ct.- headquartered Moran Towing Corporation has selected Master Boat Builders to build two next-generation harbor tugs. Developed in cooperation with Vancouver, B.C.-based naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., the RApport 2800, 80-tons-plus bollard pull, escort tugs, will have a length of 92 ft. and breadth of 40 ft., and will be equipped with a fire-fighting monitor and Tier…

NY Waterway’s new commuter/passenger ferry

Ferry operator NY Waterway has christened Arthur E. Imperatore, a new 109-foot ferry/tour boat providing a maximum 500 passengers and commuters with service in New York Harbor. The new vessel is named in honor of the company’s late founder who founded NY Waterway in 1986 and built the company into the nation’s largest privately-owned commuter ferry service. He passed…

MV Troy Bernier joins Maritime Partners fleet

Marine equipment lessor Maritime Partners LLC has added the inland towboat M/V Troy Bernier to its inventory of more than 1,600 inland waterways pushboats, towboats and barges. The largest lessor of marine equipment in the U.S., the Metairie, La., headquartered firm took possession of the 84-foot vessel, which was built at the C&C Marine & Repair shipyard in Belle Chasse, La., designed by…

Crescent adding Tier 4 tug; cutting diesel emissions on ten tugs

Crescent Towing has begun construction of a new 6,000-hp, Tier 4 z-drive tugboat at Blakeley BoatWorks in Mobile, Al., that will immediately join its Mississippi River ship-assist fleet of tugs, when completed. This new escort towing vessel was designed by Crowley Engineering Services and will be 92 feet long, 38 feet wide and draw 19 feet. The tugboat will…

Gnots Reserve takes delivery of new towboat

M/V Ryan Anthony is now working the Lower Mississippi for Gnots Reserve Inc. The La.-based company took delivery of its newest towboat from Eymard Marine Construction & Repair’s shipyard on the Harvey Canal. The new towboat - named for Ryan Hayes, Gnots Reserve’s port engineer – is the fourth ‘spindle top’ vessel the shipyard has built for the Louisiana-based…

Illinois Ports Get Funding Boost

Every year, in excess of 1.6 billion tons of freight, valued at $2.5 trillion, flows in and out of Illinois, making it one of the top three states in the nation for freight activity. Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced some $200 million in investment funds to energize 22 projects that aim to improve the movement…

Washington State ferries being converted to hybrid-electric

Washington State Ferries has awarded its first shipyard contract to Vigor for the conversion of up to three Jumbo Mark II-class ferries to hybrid-electric power. While converting WSF’s largest ferries to hybrid-electric power, Portland, Or.-headquartered Vigor “will also update aging propulsion system controls and perform other work to extend the life expectancy of these vessels,” the agency said. Following…

Ground broken on Upper Ohio Navigation Project

Setting the stage for updating the Ohio River’s oldest navigation system, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District has broken ground at the Montgomery Locks and Dam to officially mark the start of a construction of the Upper Ohio Navigation Project. The multi-billion-dollar construction project will replace locks at the Emsworth, Dashields, and Montgomery locks and dams –…