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McAllister, Moran welcome tugboats to US fleets
US tugboat owners are modernising and expanding their fleets with low-emissions tugs
Moran Towing and Transportation Co and McAllister Towing have both recently welcomed newbuild tugs with emissions compliant with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions rules.
McAllister Towing president Brian McAllister welcomed the company’s latest newbuild, Isabel McAllister, in a recently edited social media posting, after it was built by Washburn & Doughty Associates. This tugboat has a bollard pull of around 84 tonnes coming from a maximum power of 5,050 kW from two Caterpillar Cat 3516E engines driving two Schottel SRP 490 Z-drives, each with a fixed-pitch propeller in a nozzle.
The New York-headquartered vessel owner has mobilised the 366-gt tug to Baltimore to support container ships within the port.
Isabel McAllister has two John Deere 4045 AFM85 Tier III generators, each rated 99 kW, Markey DEPCF-52 towing gear and a FiFi1 fire-fighting system. It is a sister tug to 2024-built Grace McAllister, which is serving New York, and Jane McAllister, located in Virginia. These vessels, along with Rosemary McAllister, also based in Norfolk, Virginia, have the Low Emissions Vessel certification from ABS.
Moran Towing has started operating 2025-built Bahia Gulf after the 30-m tug was completed by Master Boat Builders in February. This is part of a series of up to eight tugboats ordered under joint ventures from US facilities Sterling Shipyard and Master Boat Builders, all being built to two Robert Allan Ltd designs. Other vessels in this series are expected to be delivered within the next 12 months.
In April, one of Moran Towing’s 2024-built tugboats, Mary Jane Moran, was named and welcomed in Sabine Pass, southeast Texas. Mary Jane Moran, which was also built by Master Boat Builders, will replace the Cape Ann and serve the busy Beaumont and Port Arthur region.
“With low emissions, modern capabilities, and unmatched manoeuvrability, it reflects Moran’s commitment to excellence and sustainability,” said the Sabine Pilots Association.
“To improve visibility and make multi-directional operations feel more natural, we were tasked with a redesign of the pilothouse”
This 25-m tug has twin Caterpillar 3512E engines, delivering a combined 3,800 kW of power, driving two Kongsberg US 205 Z-drives for speeds up to 12 knots and a bollard pull of 68 tonnes.
Later in 2025, a new 24-m tugboat is expected to join the fleet of Shaver Transportation operating on the Columbia River. Diversified Marine is outfitting this newbuild after the hull was constructed and launched in March by Gunderson Marine & Iron. Heather S is being built to Robert Allan’s RApport 2500 design with a beam of 12 m and a depth of 5 m.
Shaver Transportation will also upgrade its ageing tractor tugboat Washington later this year after Glosten produced a design package for replacing the main engines and installing new azimuth thrusters to increase power and bollard pull.
“Additionally, to improve visibility and make multi-directional operations feel more natural, we were tasked with a redesign of the pilothouse,” said Glosten.
Washington will have large windows for better sightlines to the working deck after its visit to the shipyard in Q3 2025.
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