Crowley Tug Repowers Boost Maritime Readiness in America’s Busiest Ports

The Master and Leader were originally delivered in April 1998, built to last by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, Washington state (CREDIT: Crowley)

By VOICES Staff. Two of the hardest-working tugboats on the West Coast are back in action—smarter, cleaner, and more powerful than ever. Crowley has completed full repowers of the Master and Leader, its ship assist and escort tugs serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. These modernizations are helping ensure the ports — […]

A Cleaner Fleet Starts at the Shipyard

A Western Lake Erie harmful algal bloom from September 26, 2017. The scum shown here near downtown Toledo stretched all the way to Lake Ontario. This photo is from Landsat-8 (CREDIT: NASA/USGS).

By VOICES Staff. As America charts a course toward building, crewing and sailing more U.S. ships, maritime innovators are stepping up to meet the need to protect our inland waterways, Great Lakes and ocean territory. Among them is  Florida-based Seascour, a company revolutionizing one of the most overlooked, and potentially environmentally harmful, aspects of ship […]

Muscular new escort tug supports a resurgent Port of Baltimore

The Jones Act-qualified Isabel McAllister, built in 2025 by Washburn & Doughty, has become a major asset for the recovering Port of Baltimore. (Image Credit: McAllister Towing)

By Casey Conoly, Professional Mariner. McAllister Towing & Transportation’s multiyear fleet renewal gained momentum this spring with the arrival of Isabel McAllister in the Port of Baltimore. The 6,770-hp tug is the fourth delivery in a six-boat series from Washburn & Doughty Associates in East Boothbay, Maine. The shipyard also designed Isabel using its proven […]

USACE Navigation mission critical to Armed Forces’ strategic readiness

By Kathryne Gest. WASHINGTON – When the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) needs to move over 1,000 trucks, trailers, and tons of equipment for a large training exercise, they rely on the cost-effectiveness and convenience of the nation’s waterways. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains an extensive network of inland and intracoastal […]

How USVs Are Transforming U.S. Maritime Safety and Efficiency

"At Janus Marine and Defense, we’re working to ensure USV integration is aligned with the Jones Act and centered around a U.S. maritime workforce that’s ready to lead this next chapter. The tools may change, but the mariner remains essential." - Jack R. Dougherty. (Image provided by Janus Marine and Defense LLC.)

By VOICES Staff. Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) are already rapidly transforming the defense sector, assisting in everything from offshore inspections to port security and beyond. However, as USVs become more prevalent in American waters, the question remains: how do we integrate this technology while upholding the principles of the Jones Act, ensuring that American mariners […]

Column: Anti-Jones Act attacks don’t hold water

Newest Jones Act Vessel MV Janet Marie arrives at the Port of Long Beach

By Captain Ed Enos. It’s curious why some are pushing so hard against the Jones Act in Hawaii lately (“Jones Act hurts more than it helps,” Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, Feb. 23). Contrary to what Grassroot Institute-affiliated scholar Colin Grabow writes, the Jones Act doesn’t impact the cost of fuel in Hawaii because our island refinery […]

How U.S. Maritime Drives Offshore Wind Development

Foss Maritime's Barges are specially designed to transport offshore wind turbines, increasing project capacity

By Jennifer Carpenter and Anne Reynolds.   Attention to offshore wind often focuses on the turbines themselves—how many are installed and how many gigawatts of power are online. But the real story is that the heartland of America is building vessels and driving investment across the U.S., and not just on the East Coast.  Offshore […]

Maritime Insurance Adapts to Rising Cyber Threats

By Ed McNamara, CEO at Armada Risk Partners. Increasingly complex and sophisticated cyberattacks on the maritime industry are soaring at unprecedented levels. There have been numerous successful cyberattacks and ransomware incidents targeting ports, airports and shipping. The cyber threat landscape is increasingly dangerous as ports have become critical digital and physical hubs for global commerce. With this rise in sophisticated […]

Navigating the Future: Electric Vehicles Aren’t the Only Answer

By David Tyler, Co-Founder & Director of Artemis Technologies.  2025 is the year of ambitious sustainability goals, with urban jungles like New York City prioritizing dollars spent towards initiatives that actively make a positive climate impact. Transportation accounts for nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and while some ground has been made towards implementing […]