Maritime Partners has taken delivery of Marauder, the first escort tug in a new series ordered by the company from Master Boat Builders of Alabama.
Master Boat Builders President Garrett Rice said that Marauder and her seven sisters will be capable of escort and harbour assist duties. Deliveries of all eight tugs are scheduled to be completed by 2027.
The new tug has a length of 88 feet (27 metres), a beam of 43 feet (13 metres), a depth of 19.5 feet (5.94 metres), and accommodation for six crewmembers.
Two Caterpillar 3516E engines that each produce 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) at 1,800 rpm will drive two Steerprop fixed-pitch, four-bladed propellers. This arrangement will deliver a speed of 13 knots and a bollard pull in excess of 90 tonnes.
The deck equipment includes Markey Machinery hawser and escort winches.
Design work on the new tug was undertaken by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd in compliance with American Bureau of Shipping and US Coast Guard Subchapter M requirements.