The first of eight tugboats Master Boat Builders Inc., Coden, Ala., is constructing for Maritime Partners LLC, New Orleans, was christened Wednesday at the Gulf Quest National Maritime Museum in Mobile, Ala.
The Marauder christening ceremony also marked the formal transition of the vessel from the Coden, Ala., shipyard into active service. The vessel's sponsor, Alison Parker Carmel — wife of Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel — performed the traditional christening.
Measuring 88'x43'x16.5' with a 19.5' draft, the ship-assist and escort tug is built to the Robert Allan Ltd. RApport 2700-MP design and packs more than 90 metric tons of bollard pull.
Main propulsion is provided by twin Caterpillar 3516E engines with an intermittent “D” rating of 3,500 hp at 1,800 rpm. The tug is equipped with Steerprop Z-drives supplied by Karl Senner LLC, with 3,000-mm fixed-pitch monoblock four-bladed propellers constructed of CF3 stainless steel. A Markey Machine DEPCF-52 75-hp electric Class II hawser winch is installed, with the option for a Markey DESF-48A 100-hp electric Class III escort winch.
Ship’s service power and onboard systems include Beier Integrated Systems electronics and control integration. The tug has a top speed of approximately 13 knots and accommodations for a crew of six. Tank capacities include approximately 24,000 gals. of fuel, 2,000 gals. fresh water, and 1,500 gals. diesel exhaust fluid.
The vessel is classed by ABS with A1 Escort Tug, Towing Vessel, AMS, UWILD, FFV1, BP, and LEV (US) notations and complies with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M regulations and international standards.
While developing the Marauder, Master Boat Builders essentially pulled the best features from tugs it had built for operators such as G&H Towing, Moran Towing, and Seabulk and combined them into one spec — the idea being that the vessel could work comfortably in a major port like Houston or a smaller one without being optimized for either, according to the shipyard's president, Garrett Rice.
Seven more hulls remain under contract at the Coden, Ala., yard, delivering roughly every six weeks through 2027. Construction on the seventh was already underway in March.
“This christening is a proud moment for our workforce and an important milestone in this program,” said Rice. “From the earliest stages of construction to final delivery, Marauder reflects the craftsmanship, experience, and pride of the men and women who build vessels at our Coden shipyard. We’re honored to deliver the first vessel in this eight-tug program for Maritime Partners.”
“A tremendous amount of thought, collaboration, and craftsmanship went into making sure this vessel was built for the important work ahead,” said Bick Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Maritime Partners. “Marauder, along with the seven sister vessels that will follow, represents a new standard for performance, efficiency, and versatility in the ship-assist market. From the very beginning, we knew we didn’t want an off-the-shelf design. We worked closely with Garrett Rice and the outstanding team at Master Boat Builders to bring together the best ideas, features, and capabilities available anywhere in the industry. We’re proud of what this partnership has accomplished, and we’re excited to see these vessels go to work.”
