Case Study: Marine Group Boat Works achieves purpose-built yard tug performance with Cummins propulsion

Marine Group Boat - Customer Case Study

Marine Group Boat Works needed a purpose-built yard tug for General Dynamics NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard to move vessels, materials, and equipment safely and efficiently in tight shipyard spaces. The challenge was to replace the aging tug Mr. Ed with a compact, durable vessel that could handle daily heavy-duty work while minimizing operating and maintenance demands. Cummins was part of the propulsion solution, supplying engines for the new workboat.

Cummins helped power the new 38-foot tug with a pair of QSL9M Tier 3 engines, each rated at 410 horsepower, paired with ZF gearboxes and workboat-style propellers. The vessel was designed by Jensen Design and built by Marine Group Boat Works with excellent visibility, a flying bridge, flanking rudders, and tow bitts fore and aft for shipyard duties and pollution-boom deployment. The result is expected to deliver 9–11 knots and 18,000–20,000 pounds of bollard pull, providing Marine Group Boat Works and NASSCO with a highly maneuverable, single-operator yard tug.

Marine Group Boat