McAllister Takes Delivery of New Tug Eileen McAllister

MarineLink April 7, 2020

Eileen McAllister will go to work in Port Everglades (Photo: McAllister Towing)

McAllister Towing announced Tuesday it has taken delivery of a newly built 6,770-horsepower shipdocking tug, Eileen McAllister, slated to enter service in Port Everglades, Fla.

The 34th tractor tug in McAllister’s fleet, Eileen McAllister was built by Washburn & Doughty in Maine and set sail for its new home port following delivery on Monday.

The 93- by 38-foot newbuild is powered by 3516E Tier IV Caterpillar engines with twin Schottel SRP 490 Z-drive units and Markey winches, achieving more than 84 metric tons during ABS bollard pull certification. Eileen will soon join sister vessel, Tate McAllister, as the most powerful tug in the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. seaport.

Captain Chuck Runnion, McAllister Towing of Port Everglades’ Vice President and General Manager, said, “The Eileen McAllister was constructed specifically to meet the needs of handling the ever-increasing size of vessels calling into Port Everglades. This tug, along with the Tate McAllister, will be able to safely handle these ships and even larger ones with exceptional control and power.”

The Eileen McAllister was christened at her launch by Eileen Buch, Eileen Duane Donovan and Eileen Fitzsimons. The three Eileens are direct descendants of James McAllister, who founded McAllister Towing in 1864.

The Eileen McAllister launched at Washburn & Doughty. (Photo: McAllister Towing)