Meet Marauder, First of Eight Built for Maritime Partners

Master Boat Builders christened Marauder, the first vessel in an eight-tug construction program for Maritime Partners.

Built at Master Boat Builders’ Coden, Ala. shipyard, Marauder is an Rapport 2700, 88-foot tug classified as an A1 Escort Tug and Towing Vessel. The vessel is equipped with an Automated Machinery System (AMS), carries Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking (UWILD) certification, and features FFV1 firefighting capability. It is also designated as a Low Emissions Vessel under U.S. standards.

With delivery complete, the tug joins Maritime Partners’ fleet, where it will support towing, escort, and marine support operations.

The vessel represents the first delivery in what both companies describe as a purpose-built program aimed at raising capability standards in the ship-assist market.

Maritime Partners owner Bick Brooks said the vessel was developed through close collaboration between the operator and shipbuilder, with a focus on performance, operational flexibility, and efficiency rather than relying on an existing stock design.

The christening sponsor was Alison Parker Carmel, wife of U.S. Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel, who formally named the vessel.

US Virgin Islands Passenger Ferry Sets Sail

Spirit of 1733, a new EPA tier 4 compliant 104-foot (32-m) passenger ferry designed by global digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther for the U.S Virgin Island’s Department of Public Works has entered service. The new vessel is operating on a busy tourist and commuter route between Red Hook on the island of St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on the island of St. John in the U.S Virgin Islands.

Named after a historic slave rebellion on the island of St. John in 1733, the USCG Subchapter-K approved vessel will join two existing Incat Crowther-designed 28-meter passenger ferries that have been operating on the route for over a decade.

Built by Gulf Craft LLC in Louisiana, Spirit of 1733 has been designed with accessibility, performance and passenger comfort in mind and is capable of transporting up to 300 passengers at speeds of up to28 knots. The vessel is equipped with the latest diesel engine emission control technologies in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 standards.

The air-conditioned main cabin features seating for up to 202 passengers, including five dedicated wheelchair-accessible spaces, two ADA-compliant bathrooms, and a fully enclosed luggage room. Integrated side boarding ramps are provided to ensure safe and efficient boarding and disembarkation. The upper deck offers spacious outdoor seating for up to 100 passengers, while the wheelhouse provides the captain with an excellent line of sight, 360-degree visibility, and wing helm stations to assist with safe docking operations.

Canal Barge's M/V Hallie M. Merrick Repowered

Canal Barge Company has repowered the M/V Hallie M. Merrick with two Mitsubishi S12R Tier 3 engines rated at 1100 horsepower at 1800 RPM. The project was completed at Sterling Shipyard with support from Laborde Products, replacing the vessel’s original Cummins KTA38 engines and bringing the towboat in line with Canal Barge’s ongoing fleet-modernization program.

Built in 2013, the Hallie M. Merrick is a 75-foot towing vessel. The repower improves efficiency, simplifies maintenance, and aligns the vessel with Tier 3 emissions standards while keeping it ready for demanding river service.

Canal Barge Company stressed that performance, fuel efficiency, and long-term service support were central to selecting the S12R platform.

“A repower is an investment in the next decade of a vessel’s life,” said Mark Allen,Vice President of Asset Management & Engineering at Canal Barge Company. “The S12R gives us the reliability and fuel curve we want, and Laborde gives us the local support that keeps these projects moving. When a boat returns to service, we need to know it will stay working without added downtime.”

Laborde talked through the coordination behind the project and the value of a consistent engine platform across multiple Canal Barge repowers.

“Sterling Shipyard did a solid job on this installation and our teams stayed connected from teardown to sea trial,” said Bradley Matte, Gulf Coast Territory Sales Manager at Laborde Products. “Canal Barge Company expects their equipment to perform, and the S12R gives them the power and simplicity they want while supporting reliable day-to-day operation.”

The Hallie M. Merrick repower builds on previous Canal Barge Company projects supported by Laborde, including S16R and S12R upgrades on the M/V Ned Merrick and M/V Integrity. Each project improves fleet efficiency and standardizes equipment across vessels operating throughout the inland river system.

American Encore Christened

American Cruise Lines announced that new riverboat American Encore was christened in Lewiston, Idaho on May 12, 2026. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who represented Eastern Washington and the Snake River in Congress for twenty years, was named American Encore’s Godmother. Ms. Rodgers was joined on the ship’s top deck for the ceremonial blessing and bottle smash by cruise guests, travel advisors, company executives, crew members, as well as local officials from Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington.

During the event, Charles B. Robertson, American’s President & CEO, said “this is our 6th ship on the river and the flagship of our aggressive posture to up the game globally.”

American Encore features five decks and accommodates 180 guests in 100% private balcony accommodations. The riverboat showcases a four-story glass atrium at the center of the ship and introduces American’s newest stateroom category, the extraordinary Signature Suite. At 1,500 square feet, American Encore’s Signature Suite is the largest riverboat suite in the world, offering a wrap-around balcony, panoramic views, separate living and sleeping spaces, and a hotel-sized bathroom with soaking tub and heated floors. Other onboard amenities include a grand dining room and casual café, multiple indoor and outdoor lounges, top deck lounge and outdoor walking track, large gym, complimentary laundry room, and elevators to all passenger decks.

FRS Clipper Adds New Whale Watch Catamaran

FRS Clipper took delivery of Emerald Clipper, a new 103-foot high-speed whale watching catamaran built by Mavrik Marine at its La Conner, Wash. facility, designed by Australia’s One2Three Naval Architects, the aluminum catamaran was developed to replace the older San Juan Clipper while significantly improving speed, fuel efficiency, passenger capacity and viewing capability.

According to the operator, Emerald Clipper can exceed 32 knots, enabling faster transit to whale watching grounds in the Salish Sea and allowing two sailings per day. The vessel can accommodate up to 300 passengers and features two outdoor viewing decks, floor-to-ceiling windows, a heated passenger cabin, sheltered exterior spaces, onboard galley service, and a dedicated naturalist station aimed at enhancing the guest experience.

Operational efficiency was a key design focus. FRS Clipper says the new vessel is more than 50% more fuel efficient than San Juan Clipper when operating at 24 knots, while delivering nearly 40% greater fuel efficiency even at its higher cruising speed. The vessel is also designed for low-wake operation at high speed, an important consideration for environmentally sensitive regional waters.

For Mavrik Marine, the project highlights the continued capability of Pacific Northwest shipbuilders in the high-speed passenger vessel sector. The builder has developed a strong reputation for custom aluminum commercial craft, with Emerald Clipper adding a prominent tourism and passenger transportation project to its portfolio.

For FRS Clipper, the vessel represents both renewal and continuity. Founded in 1986 as Victoria Clipper, the Seattle-based operator pioneered fast ferry service between Seattle and Victoria, B.C. In 2016, the company was acquired by Germany-based FRS Group, a global ferry operator with 66 vessels worldwide. Today, FRS Clipper has carried more than eight million passengers, with Emerald Clipper now serving as the newest addition to its regional passenger fleet.