Powerful Robert Allan-designed escort tug launched to support VLCCs, gas carriers on US Gulf Coast

Master Boat Builders in Coden, Alabama, has launched Titan, the third H500 tug in a series for Texas-based Suderman & Young Towing.

Built to ABS class, the powerful  30 m escort tug follows Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) RApport 3000 design, the same as its sister vessel, Saturn, delivered to the fleet in Q2 2026.

Each tug has accommodation for six crew members, a beam of 13 m, a bollard pull of more than 93 tonnes, and a top speed of 13 knots.

Propulsion consists of two four-stroke diesel engines with a combined power of 5,220 kW, compliant with EPA Tier 4 emissions standards, driving two Steerprop azimuth thrusters.

“Titan, as a high-performance escort tug, meets the needs of today’s harbour operations,” said Master Boat Builders president, Garrett Rice.

It was built to support very large crude carriers and gas carriers calling at the growing number of hydrocarbon export terminals along the US Gulf Coast and has a FiFi1 firefighting system and tankage for 44,342 gallons of fuel oil.

Suderman & Young provides harbour and marine towing services along the US Gulf Coast, serving the Texas ports of Houston, Galveston, Texas City, Freeport, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and Port Isabel.

Master Boat Builders delivered a similar tugboat, Barbara G, to Bay-Houston Towing in September 2026.

G&H Towing will operate this 30-m, 413-gt tugboat to provide ship-assist and escort operations along the Texas Gulf Coast.