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Floating drydock built for Master Boat Builders accelerates vessel deliveries
The US tug builder has taken delivery of a floating drydock to speed up vessel deliveries
Master Boat Builders (MBB) has started using a 47-m floating drydock built by US-based Conrad Shipyard to boost throughput and increase deliveries of newbuild tugs and US government vessels.
This drydock, with a breadth of 20 m, a lifting capacity of 2,000 tonnes and a barge bow for efficient towing, will be used to launch recently constructed vessels.
Previously, MBB rolled vessels onto a barge and towed them to third-party facilities in Alabama and Mississippi for launch. Now, MBB can launch vessels directly from its facility along the Theodore Industrial Canal, improving reliability and minimising external constraints.
“This is about improving our capacity, schedule certainty and cadence of delivery as we begin to take on more work, especially government and defence programmes,” said Master Boat Builders president Garrett Rice.
“By modernising how we launch and bringing that capability under our own roof, we are now able to deliver critical vessels with greater predictability.”
The drydock was towed to MBB’s shipyard and positioned by two tugboats working in Coden, ready for its first vessel launch.
MBB is a leading US builder of tugboats to support gas carriers at the growing number of LNG terminals being used for exporting US gas resources. It has contracts to build a fleet of tugs for Moran Towing, Bay-Houston and Suderman & Young, among others.
MBB has also recently announced a strategic partnership with Austal USA to collaborate on US government vessel building programmes to reduce bottlenecks and shorten production schedules. Together, they will work through current vessel construction programmes under contract to Austal USA and on future initiatives.
“This investment changes the game for how we launch vessels. This is one more step in derisking schedules for our customers,” said Mr Rice.
“When we control launch windows on our terms, we protect delivery momentum, reduce bottlenecks, and keep our focus where it belongs – building hardworking boats, on time.”
The 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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