ESG launches 4th Z-drive tug

Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., launched the Escort/Rescue Z-Drive Tug Capt. Jim McAllister (ESG 223) for McAllister Towing on March 19. The tug is under construction at ESG’s Allanton, Fla., facility. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in late 2019. It is one of four in a series of vessels, which was delivered in the summer of 2017 and built by Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou La Batre, Ala. The Rosemary McAllister (ESG 224) was delivered in June 2018, and in the final outfitting is the Ava M. McAllister (ESG 222) both of which were constructed at ESG’s Allanton ship facility. The lead vessel of the series is the Capt. Brian McAllister (ESG 221) was delivered in the summer of 2017 and built by Horizon Shipbuilding. The Rosemary McAllister was honored as one of the Significant Boats of 2018 by Workboat Magazine and the Great Workboat of 2018 by Marine News at the 2018 International Workboat Show in New Orleans. (Source: Eastern Shipbuilding 03/27/19)