McAllister takes delivery of Z-drive tractor tug from Eastern Shipbuilding

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has delivered the Twin Z-drive Reverse Tractor Tug JEFFREY McALLISTER to McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., Inc. on January 13, 2017, the shipbuilding company said in a press release.

McAllister is honoring Captain Jeffrey McAllister as the vessels namesake.  Capt. Jeffrey McAllister is a member of the fifth generation working at McAllister Towing.  Jeff began his McAllister career in 1973 at the age of 18 when he worked as a deckhand on the fleet’s offshore crew boats.  His rise at the company was attained the old-fashioned way by working his way up the hawse pipe.  He worked on numerous McAllister tugs stationed everywhere from Aruba, Bonaire and eventually landing in the Port of New York.  In 1977 he became a tug captain and in 1986 became a docking pilot.  Today, Captain Jeff is the Senior Docking Pilot for McAllister in New York.  The tug will be working in McAllister’s Charleston, SC operation and will have her christening on February 11th.

The JEFFREY McALLISTER Twin Z-drive Reverse Tractor Tug features the following characteristics:
 
General Characteristics: Dimensions (Overall):  96’ x 34’ x 14’-9”, Total Horsepower: 5,000 HP @ 900 RPM. Main Engines: (2) ABS EMD 8-710G7C 2,500HP @ 900RPM, Tier 3 EPA Certified Marine Propulsion Diesel Engines Main Propulsion: (2) ABS Schottel SRP-1215FP Z-Drives with Shafting, Bearings and Propellers Main Generators: (2) John Deere 4045AFM85 Tier 3 EPA Certified Marine Auxiliary Diesel Generator Set, each rated at 99kW @ 1,800 RPM Firefighting: (1) ABS John Deere 6135AFM85 Tier 3 EPA Certified Marine Auxiliary Diesel Engine with  (1) InMar/FFS SFP 150x200, 3,000GPM Pump and (2) InMar/FFS 300LBM Monitor 1,500GPM each. Hawser Winch: (1) ABS Jonrie Intertech Series 250 Hydraulic Escort Hawser Winch. Towing Winch: (1) ABS Jonrie Intertech Series 230 Hydraulic Towing Winch. Classification: ABS A1 Towing Vessel, AMS. Loadline and Escort Service. Flag: United States of America
 
McALLISTER TOWING is one of the oldest and largest family-owned marine towing and transportation companies in the United States. Founded by Captain James McAllister in 1864 with a single sail lighter, the company has served the maritime community continuously, earning a reputation for unsurpassed excellence. Today, the company operates a balanced and extensive fleet of tugs, barges, and ferries in the major ports on the U.S. East Coast and in Puerto Rico. Captain Brian A. McAllister is the Chairman and a great-grandson of the founder, representing the fourth generation of McAllister’s at the helm. Five McAllister’s of the fifth generation are also employed by the company.

The JEFFREY McALLISTER (ESG Hull #257) is the eleventh tug delivered to McAllister Towing since 2001. This 96’ Z-drive tug design is provided by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle, WA.

Eastern is a family held shipbuilding company located in Panama City, Florida. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has two new construction and repair facilities in Panama City, Florida and has been in business since 1976 building new, converting and repairing vessels in steel and aluminum of all types including: offshore and harbor tugs, offshore/platform supply vessels, multi-purpose construction vessels, research vessels, firefighting vessels, barges, ferries, passenger vessels, fishing vessels and inland towboats. Over the years, the Group has constructed and delivered twenty-eight Z-drive tugs of similar size and complexity for several customers in the United States. With these Z-Tech series tugs, Eastern maintains its reputation as one of the largest Z-drive tug new construction shipyards in North America.