McAllister Towing

Recently, the team at Portland Tugboat were enlisted on a daring rescue mission. The trawler Three Girls caught fire 100 miles off the Atlantic coast. Capt. Brian Fournier, President of Portland Tugboat, received the call seeking assistance and his first thought was “do I have the equipment and most importantly the crew to engage in this type of rescue?” He called in one of his most experienced crews and prepped them on the assignment. Capt. Jake Forgit, Mate Peter Roderiguez, Ch. Engineer Ian Brushwein and Deckhand Aoi Daggett boarded the Nancy McAllister and left Portland, ME in search of the burning vessel. Locating the Three Girls was a challenge. The tug and crew left at 2100 on Monday and steamed overnight toward the estimated location of the trawler. Captain Forgit said, “We were given two possible locations for the vessel based on drift. She wasn’t at the first location, and we kept getting mishits on the radar. We were using binoculars to try and find her. After about an hour we got a consistent target with the radar and set a course to intercept the vessel.” The Nancy finally met up with the burning trawler at 1100 on Tuesday. Now an integral part of the job was beginning. How to safely hook up a tow line to a burning vessel. The trawler had large outriggers with chains dangling on both sides, so getting close to the vessel was demanding. Once in position, Aoi Daggett manned the fire hose and said, “I tried to pump water directly down the stack, so I could target the fire in its engine room”. Once the fire was tamped down, Peter Rodriguez donned turnout gear and boarded the distressed vessel. Peter said, “Hooking up the tow was extremely challenging. I was able to jump on the burning vessel, get the tow line secured and quickly return to the Nancy”. The next 24 hours were equally demanding. During their return to shore, the tug and crew were met by 4’ waves and had to reengage with suppression efforts as the fire reignited aboard the trawler. They arrived in Portland with the still burning vessel on Wednesday morning. Upon arriving in the harbor, the Nancy hipped up to the trawler and pushed her stern first to the dock. Engineer Ian Brushwein remarked, “Hipping up to a vessel is normal procedure for us, but doing so while the vessel is on fire is an experience I won’t forget.” The Nancy proceeded to push the Three Girls to the pier and had her all fast at noon on Wednesday. The tug Andrew McAllister was on scene to assist the Portland fire department as they battled the fire for another 3 ½ hours. Captain Fournier was grateful and proud of the crew. “They performed exemplary. Every part of the job was safely handled by these individuals with pure professionalism and determination. If the trawler sank in the busy shipping lanes of the North Atlantic, it would’ve been a real hazard to navigation. Due to this crew’s efforts in recovering this vessel, they helped prevent this tragedy.” Bravo to these brave men for an amazing job!

We have locations in 13 ports up and down the US East Coast from Eastport, ME to San Juan, PR. We don't always get to be together, so when we do it is always a great day! Senior leadership and management (Alessandra Tebaldi, Alan Ginsberg, Steven J. Kress, Wayne Stiles, Joe Benton, Mike Reagoso, Marino Hwang, Steven Kicklighter, Michael M Millar, Frederick Hall, Michael Hallman, Justin Ballotte, Owen Johnson and Captain Robert E. H.) from every location were able to come together in Port Everglades. They discussed how McAllister Towing can continue to lead the way in the maritime transportation industry for another 160 years! Even better, they got an up close and personal look at the 6,770 hp Low Emission tractor tug EILEEN McALLISTER. President Brian Buckley McAllister was even able to get at the controls in the state-of-the-art wheelhouse. #McAllisterTowing #LeadingtheWay #160Years #TugBoatsRock #PortEverglades #USEastCoast #StateoftheArt #TugPower #McAllisterTugs

#PORT101 🌊⚓️🚢 Do you know why tugboats are so important to the maritime industry? Tugboats play a crucial role in our harbor by guiding massive vessels safely into port. They help maneuver ships through narrow waterways, ensuring smooth operations, and the steady flow of goods through our gateway. At the Port of New York and New Jersey, we rely on experienced companies like McAllister Towing, featured in this video, to provide these critical services. 🎥 credits: Patrick Sikes Photography Also featured in this video: EVERGREEN LINE

Happy Independence Day from McAllister Towing and the tug Andrew in Portland! Here she is in patriotic duty assisting the John Basilone DDG 122. As we celebrate the Red, White and Blue with friends, family, food and fireworks, McAllister would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. Thank you to our dedicated and talented crew members on our tugs and ferries who are working today and keeping the flag flying! #McAllisterTowing #july4th #July2024 #IndependenceDay #happy4thofjuly #patriotic #tugboatsrock #tugpower #portlandmaine

Today is International Day of the Seafarer! It was established in 2010 by the International Maritime Organization to recognize the contribution that seafarers make to our everyday lives. The role of seafarers often goes under-appreciated within the maritime industry and by the general public. Seafarers are an essential component in world trade, keeping the economy moving and delivering the goods and fuels we use every day. Today, over 90% of global trade is done by sea, since it is still the safest and most cost-effective way to transport goods. Thank you to all of the seafarers sailing across the world including our very own. The talented men and women who crew our vessels, are one of the most important reasons that McAllister Towing has been able to deliver safe and unsurpassed service to the maritime industry for 160 years! Bravo to you all and again we thank you! #McAllisterTowing #DayoftheSeafarer #SafetyTipsAtSea #saluteasailor #IMO

There's no place like home! After nearly 12 weeks in dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and several days at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, the Battleship New Jersey is back at the Camden Waterfront. McAllister Towing of Philadelphia was proud to assist "The Black Dragon" for her triumphant return. Under the guidance of Docking Pilot Capt. Joseph Benton and the power and agility of the tugs McAllister Responder, Reid, Robert E. and Suzanne, the USS New Jersey left Paulsboro at 1100 and just two and half hours later, the crowd along the waterfront welcomed her home. In fact, with a boost from the Suzanne and her 6,700 horsepower, the tugs set a 2024 record for fastest battleship under tow by achieving 6.8 knots eclipsing the speed of the tow of the USS Texas earlier this year. USS New Jersey, which served longer and with greater distinction than any other battleship, now serves as an unparalleled museum and memorial of all of America’s major conflicts from 1943 to 1990. She provided firepower for freedom, and now a monument to freedom for all. Welcome home Big J and may you serve for many more decades. Thank you to Adriann and Kyle for the pictures. Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial #McAllisterTowing #USSNewJersey #BlackDragon #battleship #Camden #NewJersey #McAllisterPhiladelphia #tugboats #tugpower #tugboatsrock #towing #welcomehome #theresnoplacelikehome

We are honored to have had our newest tug the Grace McAllister chosen by Professional Mariner as one of the "top" tugs of 2024! She is featured on pages 42-46 in their 2024 American Tugboat Review issue. https://lnkd.in/e3Xwvnkb Congrats to the Grace and her crews! #McAllisterTowing #AmericanTugboatReview2024 #ProfessionalMariner #maritimeindustry #toptug #lowemission #bravo #NewYorkHarbor #tugboat #tug #tugboatsrock

The offshore wind industry is retrofiting existing U.S. vessels, like the crew transfer vessel McAllister Towing Gaspee, and putting them to work. Check out the other 40 new or retrofitted American offshore wind vessels: https://bit.ly/3ujdA9x

Fleet Week 2024 in New York is here! McAllister is extremely proud to support the vessels as well as the men and women who serve on them. Here's the Grace and Timothy McAllister welcoming the USS Bataan, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, to New York. The theme for this year's event is "Fleet Week New York...Celebrating Those Who Serve". We hope everyone has a glorious holiday weekend! Celebrate those who serve and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country. #McAllisterTowing #McAllisterNewYork #NewYork #FleetWeekNYC #USSBataan #celebratethosewhoserve #MemorialDay #honorthosewhoserved