Tugs of the 2025 Roundup

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8th Sea

Description: The 8th Sea was built at the American Electric Welding Company in Fells Point, at the foot of Carolina St, in Baltimore Maryland in 1953 for the United States Army. The 8th Sea’s original use was as a harbor tug in the Charleston, South Carolina Harbor. Compared to seagoing tugs, harbor tugboats are generally smaller and the width-to-length ratio is often higher, due to the need for a lower draft.

In the 70’s the 8th Sea found work more suited to her name. She worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway (leading to the Great Lakes, a.k.a the 8th Sea). She was used to scan the entrance to locks to determine where to dredge. She worked along side the Tug 4th Coast.

In the 1990’s, the St. Lawrence Seaway refitted the 4th Coast and auctioned off the 8th Sea. She found her first, and only, private owner, Bill Curry, then owner of the Lake Towing and Salvage in Plattsburgh, NY. The 8th Sea worked in towing and salvage until 2000.

Since 2000, the 8th Sea has served the purpose of summer home, cruise ship, evening gathering spot, meeting location, hide and seek base, and rescue boat. She is a staple in Waterford and Troy. Her captain spends his summers with the 8th Sea and his winters in Grand Cayman Islands.

Alyssa Brooke

  • Vessel Type: Working Tug

  • Owner: CD PERRY LLC

  • Primary Port: Troy Sea Wall

  • Builder: St John Boat Builders, Panama City, FL

  • Year of Build: 2016

  • Length Overall: 27'

  • Beam: 14'

  • Engine Type: Cummins Diesel, 800 HP

Description: Alyssa Brooke is a pusher-style tug built in 2016 by St. Johns Boat Builders in Panama City, FL. Designed for versatility, the Alyssa Brooke is transportable over highways, allowing it to be easily relocated to different job sites. This tug is a familiar sight on both the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, where it is frequently engaged in various work projects. Currently, the Alyssa Brooke is stationed at the mouth of the Hudson River, near Catskill Creek, where it is assisting with repairs using a 140-foot crane barge.

ATLANTIC HUNTER V

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Owner: Cap'n Ben

  • Business: Blue Dolphin Marine Towing & Salvage

  • Primary Port: Norwood, MA

  • Builder: Custom by owner

  • Year of Build: 2024

  • Length Overall: 25'

  • Beam: 8'

  • Engine Type: Outboard, 200 HP

Description: ATLANTIC HUNTER V is a custom-built mini tug, designed to the exact specifications of its owner, Cap'n Ben. This new addition to the fleet showcases the latest in tugboat design and innovation.

Bath Jr.

  • Vessel Type: Restoration Project | Mini Tug

  • Business: Granite State Towboat

  • Length Overall: 25'

  • Beam: 8'

Description: Bath Jr. is a mini tug under restoration by Joe Lannan. This 25’ mini tug, built 2016, is TBR regular and fan favorite.

Benjamin Elliot

  • Vessel Type: Working Tug

  • Owner: NYS Marine Highway

  • Primary Port: Troy, NY

  • Length Overall: 48'

  • Beam: 15'

  • Engine Type: Two Detroit Diesel 6-110 engines

Description: Originally built in 1960, Benjamin Elliot has served multiple roles, including for the Monahan Towing Company. Now, under the New York State Marine Highway, it continues to operate with the same name. At 640 hp, powered by two, Detroit Diesel 6-110 diesel engines, the Ben is the smallest tug in the NYS Highway Marine fleet.

Carol

  • Vessel Type: Working Tug

  • Owner: Portland Tugs

  • Primary Port: New Orleans, LA

  • Length Overall: 80'

  • Beam: 25'

  • Engine Type: Two Cummins K38-M diesel engines

Description: 2025 marks the first visit for the New Orleans, LA-based tugboat Carol, originally built as the Falcon in 1978 by Modern Marine Power Incorporated of Houma, Louisiana. 

The tug was acquired by the Eklof Marine Corporation in 1989, the K-Sea Transportation Partnership in 1993, the Kirby Corporation in 2011, the Vane Brothers Company in 2013, and finally Portland Tugs in 2020. Originally powered by two Detroit Diesel 12V71 diesel engines, she was re-powered with two Tier II compliant Cummins K38-M diesel engines in 2014.

Carol is rated at 2,000 horsepower, with a capacity of 35,000 gallons of fuel, 350 gallons of lube oil, 350 gallons of waste oil, and 4,200 gallons of water. She is equipped with a single drum, HBL XS-27H-5 towing winch, and two 65 ton Patterson face winches.

Though participating in the tugboat parade from Albany, the Carol will not be docked at the Waterford wall over the weekend unless NYSDOT converts the 112th Street Bridge back to a draw bridge between now and Friday.  She will be on the Waterford "pool" however, docked just south of the bridge at NYS Marine Highway's yard during the festivities. 

Frederick Skene

  • Vessel Type: Debris Collection Vessel

  • Owner: Albany Field Office, New York District Army Corps of Engineers

  • Year of Build: 2024

  • Length Overall: 45'

  • Beam: 15'
    Description: Named after a former New York State Engineer, the Frederick Skene is a new Debris Collection Vessel designed to keep New York waterways safe by clearing driftwood and other hazardous materials. The vessel operates from Lake Champlain down to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Equipped with a 40-ton crane on a floating plant, it tackles large debris while a smaller craft assists in shallow waters. This vessel replaces an older model that served since 1963, ensuring continued safety for commercial and recreational traffic along the Hudson River.

Tucker the Tugboat

  • Vessel Type: Mini Kayak Tug

  • Length Overall: 8'

  • Beam: 24"

Description: Tucker the Tugboat, although diminutive in size, exudes a unique and endearing charm. She is a special vessel of the kayak origins, originally commissioned by the skilled Gina L. Freeman and now sailing with Gridlock Studios. With an air draft of just 4 feet and a water draft of a mere 6 inches, she is perfectly suited for shallow waterways and can slip through low bridges with ease. Her compact dimensions of 8 feet in length and 2 feet in beam make her an agile and efficient vessel. Powered by an electric engine, she offers eco-friendly cruising. Tucker may be tiny, but she embodies the spirit of innovation and passion for boating, making her a delightful addition to the Roundup.

Goosed

  • Vessel Type: Monk 36 Trawler

  • Length Overall: 40'

  • Beam: 13'

Description: Goosed is a Monk 36 Trawler, a type of pleasure vessel, offering a smooth and leisurely cruising experience,

Henry

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Primary Port: East Greenwich, RI

  • Year of Build: 2023

  • Length Overall: 18'

  • Beam: 8'

  • Engine Type: Diesel, 25 HP

Description: Henry is a mini tug built by its owner, Chris Prata, by refurbishing a 50-year-old marshall cat sanderling and installing a tug-like wheelhouse.

Jolly Bobber

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Length Overall: 14'6"

  • Beam: 7'6"

Description: .Jolly Bobber is a homemade 14”6’ mini tugboat built in 2021 that embodies the joy of boating. With its compact size and cheerful design, it promises to be a crowd-pleaser at the event.

Knot at Work

  • Vessel Type: Houseboat

  • Business: Mohawk Maiden Cruises

  • Length Overall: 40'

Description: Knot at Work is a houseboat operated by Mohawk Maiden Cruises. It serves as a comfortable and functional vessel on the water, providing a unique cruising experience on the rivers.

Lady Gabrielle

  • Vessel Type: Other

  • Length Overall: 32'

  • Beam: 11'

Description: This Nordic Tug is a member of the Troy   Yacht and Canoe Club, just across the river. Lady Gabrielle was purchased in Annapolis, Maryland in August of 2012. The boat left Maryland a month before Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast.

Nathan G.

  • Vessel Type: Towing Vessel

  • Ship Builder: Marine Industries Inc., Morgan City, Louisiana

  • Year Built: 1977

  • Length Overall: 73.3'

  • Beam: 24.3'

  • Hull Depth: 8.1'

  • Gross Tonnage: 132

  • Net Tonnage: 89

  • Hailing Port: Troy, NY

  • Engine Type: Two Detroit 12 149 diesel engines

  • Horsepower: 1,200 HP

  • Propulsion: Twin screw, cast steel, fixed pitch propellers

  • Previous Names: Brute Force, Hinton, Joan McAllister

Description: Nathan G. was originally built in 1977 by Marine Industries Incorporated as the Brute Force. Over the years, the vessel has seen several name changes and ownership transfers. It was first acquired by Seabrook Towing Incorporated and renamed Hinton. In 1987, it was purchased by McAllister Brothers Towing Company and was later renamed Joan McAllister in 2004. Finally, in 2017, the tug was acquired by the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company and renamed Nathan G. This steel-hulled vessel is powered by two Detroit 12 149 diesel engines, providing a combined output of 1,200 horsepower, making it a reliable workhorse on the water.

Other Office

  • Vessel Type: Express Cruiser

  • Primary Port: Schuylerville, NY

  • Builder: Wellcraft

  • Year of Build: 1997

  • Length Overall: 43'

  • Beam: 14.5'

  • Engine Type: Caterpillar, 420 HP x2

Description: Other Office is an express cruiser owned by David Mathis, serving as a summer residence. It has been a beloved part of family life, particularly enjoyed by Mathis’s grandson during the summer months on the river.

Reliant

  • Vessel Type: Trawler

  • Length Overall: 32'

  • Beam: 12'

Description: The Reliant is a 1988 Nordic Tug. She’s 32 feet with a beam of 11 feet. She’s powered by a reliable Cummins Inboard engine. With a draft of 3 feet and 9 inches, the Reliant is designed to navigate a range of waterways with ease. 

Sarah D.

  • Vessel Type: Working Tug

  • Owner: NYS Marine Highway

  • Primary Port: Troy, NY

  • Length Overall: 90'

  • Beam: 29'

Description: The Sarah D, a distinguished tugboat, has been a stalwart presence in the maritime world since her construction in 1975 by Putnam Shipbuilding of Palatka, Florida. Originally known as the Lauren S. Coppedge, she was initially commissioned by Wayland T. Coppedge Jr. of the White Stack Towing Company in Jacksonville, Florida. However, the White Stack Towing Company later decided to rename her as the Helen D. Coppedge. In 1978, the White Stack Towing Company became part of the Turecamo Coastal and Harbor Towing Corporation of New York, New York, but the tugboat retained her name. Then, in 1998, when Turecamo was acquired by the Moran Towing Corporation of New Canaan, Connecticut, the Helen D. Coppedge continued to proudly bear her name. It wasn't until 2016 that she found a new home with the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy, New York, where she was lovingly rechristened as the Sarah D. As a twin-screw tug boasting a robust 2,000 horsepower, the Sarah D stands as a testament to maritime excellence and tradition, and her legacy is further underscored by her past accolades, including being a former Best in Show winner at Tugboat Roundup. She is not just a vessel but a maritime legend in her own right.

Shoofly Pie

  • Vessel Type: Historic Tug

  • Owner: Tideland Institute

  • Primary Port: Brooklyn, NY

Description: Tugboat Shoofly Pie was designed to be a Distribution Box (L Type) Boat for the US Army, meant to work on harbor mines in the early years of WWII. She laid submarine detection cables in Maine, then spent the rest of the war working as a tugboat. After the war she continued as a tug in Texas, spent a few years working as a fireboat, then as a tug again in the Caribbean and on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Her current home port is Brooklyn.

Spirit of Albany

  • Vessel Type: Port Security Vessel

  • Owner: Albany Port District Commission

  • Primary Port: Albany, NY

  • Builder: Pasch Marine

  • Year of Build: 1966

  • Length Overall: 64'

  • Beam: 15'

  • Engine Type: 2 12V71 Detroit Diesel engines for propulsion, 453 Detroit Diesel engine for electrical power

Description: The Spirit of Albany, a Port Security Vessel owned by the Albany Port District Commission, is primarily used for inspections and as a work platform for wharf repairs. Originally serving as the survey boat "Sentry" for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the vessel has a storied history, now continuing its service at the Port of Albany.

TooT TooT

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Primary Port: Middleboro, MA

  • Builder: Mike Magnant

  • Year of Build: 2002

  • Length Overall: 14'3"

  • Beam: 7'4"

  • Engine Type: Tohatsu, 20 HP

Description: TooT TooT is a Berkley designed mini tug that was built by Mike and Louise Magnant. Mike actually built the boat around the steering wheel that Louise gave him for   Christmas way back in 1996. Before Mike could build the tug however, he promised Louise that he would build her a three season room on the side of   their house. It took four and a half years, working part time, before TooT TooT was launched in August 2002. TooT TooT is 14'3" long and 7'4" wide and has participated and won many awards in events all over the northeast.

Toto

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Length Overall: 21'

  • Beam: 6'

Description: Toto’s owner was on duty as a firefighter during a tornado in Massachusetts in 2011 when a tree worker brought a stranded kitten into the firehouse. Jonathan has since written a book about the Toto the Tornado Kitten and named a tug boat after her. Toto (the boat, not the kitten) is a 21’ 2014 Ranger 21EC.

Tracy’s Landing

  • Vessel Type: Ranger Tug

  • Length Overall: 25'

  • Beam: 8.5'

Description: Tracy’s Landing is a 25’ Ranger Tug, designed for both comfort and function.

Tuggin Teeth

  • Vessel Type: Mini Tug

  • Primary Port: Califon, NJ

  • Year of Build: 2007

  • Length Overall: 29'

  • Engine Type: Diesel

Description: Tuggin’ Teeth is a 29-foot long, 8-foot wide mini tug now owned by Russ O'Connell. Originally known as the Atlantic Hunter II, the 2017 Tug of the Year. The Atlantic Hunter II was built by Ben Grudinskas. After changing hands, Russ O'Connell purchased the vessel and, with the help of Ben, undertook a refurbishment to restore and enhance its distinct character.

The tug’s interior is adorned with solid wood paneling, mahogany and teak trim, and working bronze portholes, all sourced from 1960s-era wooden boats. This craftsmanship, combined with its steel fore and aft “H” bitts and quarter bitts, makes Tuggin’ Teeth both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

USCGC WIRE

  • Vessel Type: Icebreaking Coast Guard Cutter

  • Owner/Business: U.S. Coast Guard

  • Primary Port: Saugerties, NY

  • Builder: New Bern, NC

  • Year of Build: 1963

  • Length Overall: 65'

  • Beam: 19'

  • Engine Type: Caterpillar 3412 DIT, 500 HP

Description: Commissioned in 1963, USCGC WIRE has served New York for 61 years, primarily in icebreaking and Maritime Law Enforcement on the Hudson River. It remains a vital vessel in ensuring the safety and navigability of the waterways.

Xanadu

  • Vessel Type: Antique Cruiser

  • Primary Port: Schenectady Yacht Club

  • Builder: Pacemaker

  • Year of Build: 1963

  • Length Overall: 39'

  • Beam: 12'

  • Engine Type: Gasoline, 600 HP
    Description: The Xanadu is a beautifully preserved antique cruiser built in 1963 by Pacemaker. With a wooden hull and a length of 39 feet, this vessel boasts a rich history and classic design. Rebuilt in 1984 by Everett Klein, the Xanadu has been carefully maintained to ensure it remains in excellent condition. The cruiser, which has an air draft of 14 feet and a water draft of 4 feet, is powered by a gasoline engine with 600 horsepower. Homeported at the Schenectady Yacht Club, Xanadu offers a timeless cruising experience on the water, combining vintage charm with modern reliability.