C&C Marine and Repair, Belle Chasse, La., hosted a keel laying ceremony Friday to signal the start of construction for a series of four hybrid escort tugboats being built for Green Tug Towing (GTT), Lake Charles, La., to support operations at the Calcasieu Parish liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal being developed by Woodside Energy, Perth, Australia.
Green Tug Towing — a joint venture formed by Saltchuk Marine LLC, Seattle, and Harbor Docking & Towing, Lake Charles, La., — holds a 20-year services contract from Woodside to provide LNG carrier berthing and unberthing, escort, standby, and emergency response services in support of the Louisiana LNG project
During the ceremony, Gov. Jeff Landry, R.-La., welded four coins into the keel — one representing each project partner: C&C Marine and Repair, the State of Louisiana, Woodside Energy, and Green Tug Towing.
The keel laying comes nearly a year after Woodside announced its final investment decision for the $17.5 billion Louisiana LNG development, the largest foreign direct investment in state history. The facility, which is scheduled to come online in 2029, is expected to produce up to 16.5 million metric tons of LNG annually.
“Woodside’s $17.5 billion investment in Louisiana LNG and this tugboat contract prove that Louisiana’s workforce, innovation, and grit continue to attract world-class investment,” Landry said. “Projects like Louisiana LNG and the vessels being built at C&C Marine and Repair show the world what we already know: Louisiana isn’t just part of America’s energy future; we’re powering it.”
Slated for delivery by 2028, the four tugs will be built to Robert Allan Ltd.'s RApport 2800-H design, featuring diesel-electric hybrid propulsion intended to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during standby operations, harbor transits, and low-speed maneuvering. The vessels will also carry high-performance indirect steering forces and bollard pull engineered to handle the world's largest LNG carriers, according to the builder.
The new series joins a separate group of four hybrid escort tugs already under construction at C&C, bringing the shipyard's active tugboat build to eight vessels.
"These are among the most sophisticated vessels ever built at our shipyard, and our team is ready for it," said Tony Cibilich, president and owner of C&C Marine and Repair. "We've spent nearly three decades building the people, the facilities, and the engineering depth to take on programs of this scale. We're proud to build these tugs in Louisiana and to be part of a project that will power America's energy future for decades to come."
GTT will operate along the Calcasieu Shipping Channel, the seventh busiest waterway in the nation by tonnage. Harbor Docking & Towing has operated along the channel since 1955. Saltchuk Marine operates through its family of companies — including Foss Maritime, AmNav, and Cook Inlet Tug & Barge — providing ship-assist, tanker escort, and towing services across major U.S. ports and throughout the Pacific and Arctic regions.
“This contract is a major milestone for Green Tug Towing and for Louisiana’s maritime industry, combining local shipbuilding, proven harbor assist operations, and long-term investment in safe, reliable LNG terminal services,” said Thomas Springer, president of GTT.
"This partnership brings two family-owned companies with shared values together to do important work. Saltchuk Marine and Harbor Docking & Towing both have long histories built on safety, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the people and communities we serve,” said Jason Childs, president and CEO, Saltchuk Marine. “We're proud to partner with a member of the Lake Charles maritime community that has been trusted for generations, and we look forward to building a long and productive future together.”
Daniel Kalms, Woodside executive vice president and chief operating officer, international, said, “As we progress towards targeted first LNG in 2029, Green Tug Towing will play a key role in ensuring Louisiana LNG can safely deliver reliable supply to our global customers. This contract also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting local suppliers and growing the shipbuilding industry in Louisiana.”
