ESG Completes Service Operation Vessel Conversion for HOS

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) completed and redelivered HOS Rocinante, a first-of-its-kind U.S.-flagged Service Operation Vessel (SOV) converted for Hornbeck Offshore Services.

The vessel marks a milestone in the evolution of the U.S. offshore service fleet to be future-ready for both the offshore wind and petro-energy sector demands for broadly capable marine support vessels.

Originally built by ESG as an offshore supply vessel, HOS Rocinante unerwent extensive conversion at ESG’s Allanton and Port St Joe Shipyards in Panama City, Florida.

The project transformed the vessel into a next-gene SOV engineered to support technician accommodation, safe personnel transfer, and multi-day offshore operations, capable for both offshore wind and offshore oil and gas projects.

Key conversion elements include:

• Installation of a walk-to-work motion-compensated gangway and other personnel transfer solutions

• Enhanced dynamic positioning (DP) and propulsion capabilities for precise station-keeping

• Upgraded accommodation and workspace capacity for offshore technicians with single person staterooms

• Significant improvements to cargo handling and client warehousing/storage systems

• Energy storage system for enhanced power reserve and improved failure mode operability

“This is a full circle moment for our team to be able to convert a vessel that we built more than ten years ago," said Joey D’Isernia, CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group. "The delivery of the HOS Rocinante demonstrates what American ingenuity and skilled labor can accomplish,” “This vessel is now one of the most capable multi-market offshore support assets in the U.S. fleet, built right here on the Gulf Coast by America’s best shipbuilders.”

The SOV is uniquely positioned to support both offshore wind development and petro-energy operations, offering Hornbeck Offshore Services unmatched flexibility to meet the evolving needs of domestic and international energy customers.

Washburn & Doughty-Built Gerard McAllister Delivered

Power, ingenuity, maneuverability - McAllister Towing’s newest tractor tug, the GERARD MCALLISTER, brings all three to the Port of New York.

American made at Washburn & Doughty, the GERARD MCALLISTER is the fifth in a series of six 84-metric-ton bollard pull, low-emission tractor tugs. She is McAllister’s 42nd tractor tug and the 13th with over 80 metric tons of bollard pull, underscoring the company’s continuation toward a more powerful, hi-tech, and sustainable fleet.

Driven by 6,770 horsepower in her CAT engines, the GERARD MCALLISTER is built to handle the largest ships arriving on the U.S. East Coast. She joins her sister vessel, the GRACE MCALLISTER (launched in 2024), as the newest member of the fleet at McAllister’s flagship New York operation. With eco-friendly engines and Markey winches, these American-made tugboats rank among the most advanced and capable ship-docking tractor tugs serving the Port of New York.

The GERARD MCALLISTER’s first sail wasn’t just a delivery — it’s was a career showcase. On her way from the shipyard to New York, she stopped at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, giving cadets the chance to step aboard, tour the new tug, meet her crew, and ask real-world questions about working in the tugboat industry. For the next generation of mariners, the GERARD MCALLISTER is a terrific representation of where the industry is headed: high-tech, low-emission, and mission-critical to global trade.

“As vessel sponsor, it’s an incredible honor to see this tug bear my name,” said Gerard McAllister, the youngest of the fourth generation of McAllisters descended from company founder James McAllister. “This vessel represents where McAllister is headed — more power, cleaner technology, and new opportunities for the next generation of mariners. I hope the cadets who walk her decks at Mass Maritime can see themselves building a future in this industry and, one day, standing on a tug like this in New York Harbor.”

McAllister Towing is a fifth-generation owned and operated company that has been providing unsurpassed service since 1864. With four new state-of-the-art vessels added in the last two years and a fifth scheduled for delivery in 2026, McAllister continues to invest in innovation, sustainability, and safety across its operations on the U.S. East Coast.

Saronic to Invest $300m in Louisiana Shipyard

Saronic is expanding its facility to meet surging demand for its autonomous ships. As part of the shipyard expansion, Saronic will construct three new slips, expand its warehouse, and develop a dedicated production line for large-vessel assembly — namely Marauder, the company’s 180-foot autonomous ship. Saronic is collaborating with industry leaders JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn, and Alberici on the design and construction.

The company broke ground on the new construction project in November 2025, which will add more than 300,000 square feet of new production capacity. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2026, with expanded operations coming online in early 2027.

“This expansion represents what American industry can achieve when innovation and production are fully aligned,” said Dino Mavrookas, Saronic Co-founder and CEO. “Our expanded shipyard will enable us to deliver autonomous ships at unprecedented speed and scale while creating 1,500 high-quality jobs across Louisiana. Together with our next-generation Port Alpha shipyard, we’re establishing the modern blueprint for American shipbuilding — an integrated ecosystem that connects autonomy innovation with large-scale production capacity to strengthen and sustain America’s maritime leadership for generations to come.”

At its Franklin facility, Saronic is currently constructing two 150-foot Marauder vessels, having progressed from initial design to full vessel development in just six months. The company expects to deliver its first vessel by the end of the year.

Through vertical integration, iterative design, and advanced manufacturing, Saronic has evolved Marauder’s design to 180-feet, enhancing its payload capacity and operational range. The updated vessel is capable of carrying up to four 40-foot or eight 20-foot ISO containers. With a cruise speed of 12 knots and a top speed of 25+ knots, a 150-metric-ton payload capacity, and a range of up to 5,400 nautical miles, the Marauder can operate autonomously or under remote supervision for extended missions.

By employing reusable subassemblies, optimizing production sequencing, and leveraging domestic supply chains, Saronic says it is setting a new standard for rapid, scalable, and adaptable U.S. shipbuilding. The company’s unique approach to developing and producing autonomous ships has already delivered a 25 percent gain in efficiency between the development and build of its first two Marauder vessel, and the company plans to further accelerate that rate of efficiency as it ramps up production.

The Franklin facility complements Saronic’s plans for Port Alpha, the largest and most advanced shipyard in the US, designed to produce large autonomous ships at speed and scale and create thousands of jobs. These two facilities form an integrated production ecosystem designed to accelerate America’s shipbuilding capabilities and the integration of autonomous ships into national maritime operations.

New $60m U.S. Defense Shipbuilding Facility Set to Open in 2027

Master Boat Builders announced plans to build a new $60 million, 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility dedicated exclusively to government and defense shipbuilding programs. The new 20-acre site is located directly across Bayou Coden from the company’s existing yard.

“This new facility is about building more capability here at home,” said Garrett Rice, President, Master Boat Builders. “By dedicating an entire yard to defense programs, we’re creating the capacity and flexibility needed to deliver for all of our customers and supporting the nation’s call for a stronger, more resilient maritime industrial base.”

Master Boat is partnering with Thompson Engineering and RJ Baggett on the design, engineering and construction of the facility. The new facility will feature a state-of-the-art assembly building with approximately 150,000 square feet of covered manufacturing space optimized for serial production, enabling the erection of steel and aluminum ships, as well as efficient fabrication and assembly of complex modules for Navy and Coast Guard programs, including the U.S. Navy’s Landing Craft Utility (LCU) program through Master Boat Builders’ recently announced strategic outsourcing agreement with Austal USA. Master Boat also plans to pursue additional government programs, including the Domestic Icebreaker program for the U.S. Coast Guard.

The site will also include expanded workforce training areas to develop the next generation of Gulf Coast shipbuilders and modern infrastructure to support modular construction techniques.

Work to clear the 20-acre site began last month, with construction of the facility to take approximately 18 to 24 months. While the facility is under construction, LCU modules will be fabricated at Master Boat’s existing facility.

ABB to Power WSF’ First Hybrid-Electric Newbuilds

ABB has secured an order with Washington State Ferries (WSF), the United States’ largest ferry operator, to supply and integrate hybrid-electric propulsion systems for two hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries.

With the first two ships scheduled for delivery from Eastern Shipbuilding Group, one apiece in 2030 and 2031, the contract also includes an option for a third ferry. WSF has previously announced plans to build up to 16 ships by the end of 2040, as part of a ferry electrification program targeting lower emissions.

ABB will supply and integrate end-to-end systems including power distribution, advanced energy management, and marine automation for ferries that will include the largest ship batteries ever installed in the US.

Based on ABB Onboard DC Grid and PEMS power and energy management system, the hybrid-electric propulsion systems will achieve substantially lower fuel consumption and operating costs than existing WSF vessels serving the same routes.

Each ship’s 13.2-megawatt-hour energy storage systems will also enable all-electric, emissions-free operations on short routes and in port.

The order builds on ABB’s early-stage involvement as the propulsion single source vendor in the WSF project, announced in 20242, with the contract amended to reflect the confirmed initial shipbuilding contract for two ships plus one option.

ABS Approves Seagate Space’s Modular Offshore Launch Platform

ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to Seagate Space for its unmanned semi-submersible launch platform – the first offshore asset to receive AIP under the newly published ABS Requirements for Offshore Spaceports.

The platform, designed specifically for remote offshore launch operations and referred to as the Gateway-S, introduces a new category of modular offshore spaceport infrastructure.

Gateway-S can be configured for both launch and recovery as well as disassembled into container-sized modules for transportation by sea, truck or rail, allowing for multi-site deployments.

Other key features of the design include its semi-submersible hull form, which reduces wave-induced motion, and deck arrangement which can facilitate various mission- specific equipment.

Offshore recovery missions have grown tremendously over the past decade, soaring from just two in 2015 to over a hundred in 2024.

Specialized barges and offshore support vessels enable this rapid growth, serving as a key theater for an array of offshore operations in support of the expanding commercial space industry.

Offshore spaceports enable more convenient and efficient launch operations by moving operations to sea, reducing public impact while relieving pressure on shore-based spaceport infrastructure.

The platform was approved in principle with applicable standards in ABS Requirements for Offshore Spaceports and ABS Rules for Building and Classing Offshore Units (Offshore Rules). An intermediate approval step, AIPs assist in demonstrating project feasibility of novel concepts to project partners and regulatory bodies.

Conrad Shipyard, SHI Ink MOU

Image courtesy Conrad Shipyard

ABB has secured an order with Washington State Ferries (WSF), the United States’ largest ferry operator, to supply and integrate hybrid-electric propulsion systems for two hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries.

With the first two ships scheduled for delivery from Eastern Shipbuilding Group, one apiece in 2030 and 2031, the contract also includes an option for a third ferry. WSF has previously announced plans to build up to 16 ships by the end of 2040, as part of a ferry electrification program targeting lower emissions.

ABB will supply and integrate end-to-end systems including power distribution, advanced energy management, and marine automation for ferries that will include the largest ship batteries ever installed in the US.

Based on ABB Onboard DC Grid and PEMS power and energy management system, the hybrid-electric propulsion systems will achieve substantially lower fuel consumption and operating costs than existing WSF vessels serving the same routes.

Each ship’s 13.2-megawatt-hour energy storage systems will also enable all-electric, emissions-free operations on short routes and in port.

The order builds on ABB’s early-stage involvement as the propulsion single source vendor in the WSF project, announced in 20242, with the contract amended to reflect the confirmed initial shipbuilding contract for two ships plus one option.