Professional Mariner – October/November 2026

New Super Tiger-class towboat joins Parker Towing fleet

A new 1,368-hp towboat has joined the fleet of vessels moving cargo along the Gulf Coast and the nation’s inland waterways. Parker Towing Co. has added Chipper Rabbit, a 60-by-24-by-8-foot Super Tiger-class towboat built by Serodino Inc. in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the company’s Mobile Operations Division. The twin-screw vessel is powered by two Mitsubishi S6R-Y3 Tier 3 diesel engines, each…

Long Beach, MarAd lay groundwork for nuclear-powered shipping

Efforts to lay the groundwork for nuclear-powered commercial shipping in the United States are beginning to move from broad policy discussions to the nation’s ports. In July, the Port of Long Beach became the first U.S. seaport to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Maritime Administration to advance small modular reactors (SMRs) for commercial vessels, ports and other maritime…

Louisiana-built pushboat joins Maritime Partners fleet

Another new pushboat is headed to work on the nation’s inland waterways following its completion at a Louisiana shipyard. Maritime Partners has added Lulu Hamilton, a 67.5-by-29-foot, 1,606-hp pushboat constructed by FMT Shipyard & Repair in Harvey, La., to its inland fleet. The vessel was designed by Entech Designs. The twin-screw vessel is powered by two Mitsubishi S6R2-Y3 Tier 3…

Nichols to build new station vessel for San Francisco Bar Pilots

One of the nation’s busiest pilot associations is preparing to add a new offshore station vessel designed to support around-the-clock operations outside the Golden Gate. The San Francisco Bar Pilots has awarded Nichols Brothers Boat Builders a contract to build an approximately 110-foot station vessel designed by Seattle-based naval architecture firm Glosten. Construction will take place at Nichols’ yard in…

Jones Act waiver extended another 90 days with narrower scope, new review process

The federal government has extended its emergency waiver of the Jones Act for another 90 days while narrowing the cargoes and individual voyages eligible for the exemption. The latest extension took effect Aug. 17 and is scheduled to expire Nov. 15. The waiver, already the longest-running in the law’s history, allows certain cargoes to move between U.S. ports aboard vessels…

Artemis launches first electric foiling pilot boat

Artemis Technologies has launched what it calls the world’s first fully electric hydrofoiling pilot boat, bringing technology the company believes can fundamentally improve both high-speed seakeeping and vessel control during pilot transfers closer to commercial service. The first-in-class EF-12 Pilot has entered the water and is undergoing sea trials ahead of operational deployment. The roughly 40-foot vessel pairs a deep-V…

New research catamaran joins UNC Wilmington fleet

Another hydrofoil-assisted research vessel has joined the nation’s growing fleet of university-operated platforms for marine science and education. All American Marine recently delivered Osprey, a 78-foot research catamaran designed by Teknicraft and built for the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The Subchapter T vessel will support scientific and educational missions along the Carolina and mid-Atlantic coasts. Designed for a broad…

Gladding-Hearn redelivers refitted Boston Harbor ferry

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has completed a comprehensive midlife refit of the Boston Harbor ferry Outward Bound, extending the service life of the 64-foot passenger vessel that has served the Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School since 1995. The Somerset, Mass., shipyard repowered the 140-passenger ferry with a 429-hp Mitsubishi Tier 3 diesel engine and Twin Disc gearbox, replacing its original Detroit…

Eastern begins construction on three ferries for WSF

Washington State Ferries has begun rebuilding its aging fleet, with construction now underway on the first of three new hybrid-electric ferries. Eastern Shipbuilding Group marked the start of construction on the 160-vehicle vessels with a steel-cutting ceremony in early August at its Florida shipyard. During the event, WSF announced it would exercise an option for the third ferry, expanding an…

Inland waterways industry loses seat at the table

A congressionally mandated board that gives the inland waterways industry a formal voice in how billions of dollars in lock-and-dam investments are prioritized has not met since December 2024, leaving the companies that help fund those projects without their customary seat at the table. The Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) was sidelined amid a broader Trump administration effort to reduce…