For more than 160 years, McAllister Towing has been a trusted name along the U.S. East Coast—synonymous with reliability, skill, and maritime innovation. With offshore wind project construction well underway in American waters, McAllister is channeling its deep harbor-assist and towing expertise into this new frontier of clean energy.
“Offshore wind was a natural extension of what we’ve done for generations,” says Alessandra Tebaldi, Executive Vice President & General Counsel.
With port locations stretching from Eastport, Maine, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, McAllister began its offshore wind journey by adapting existing tugs, terminals, and local mariner teams to near-shore logistics. The company then introduced Multi-Mission Support Vessels (MSVs)—repurposed and upgraded crew boats from the Gulf region —now homeported in Providence, Rhode Island, and designed to handle everything from crew transfer to remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support. These Jones Act-qualified assets have become a flexible, local-content solution supporting projects along the East Coast.

Alicia F. McAllister lines up Charybdis—the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), constructed at Seatrium AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas—for her maiden delivery to her homeport at Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area. (Photo courtesy McAllister Towing)
McAllister has three central offshore wind goals: safe, on-schedule operations; community-based workforce development; and lower emissions. The company continues to bring newer, high-horsepower, low-emission tractor tugs into service.
Training is key to that performance. McAllister’s role-based training system, supported by ISO and ISM certifications, includes simulator learning and partnerships with the Seamen’s Church Institute and SUNY Maritime College—where a $2.5 million pledge helped create the Captain Brian A. McAllister Simulator initiative. The result: mariners with clear career progression paths and projects staffed by skilled, safety-first crews.
McAllister’s mark on major U.S. offshore wind projects is extensive. In Virginia, the company helped bring the first Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) monopiles into port, provided harbor-assist to Dominion Energy’s Charybdisinstallation vessel —including bringing her into Portsmouth Marine Terminal on her maiden voyage from the construction yard to her home port and securing her alongside — and supported Prysmian’s cable activities. In New York, McAllister’s low-emission tugs assisted during Empire Wind 1’s near-shore cable campaign, while around Rhode Island and Massachusetts, its MSVs Roger Williams and Gaspee served Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind.
Beyond operations, McAllister’s strategic waterfront holdings—including facilities in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Fall River, Massachusetts—have become vital staging and laydown sites for offshore wind developers.
McAllister’s edge lies in its adaptability. Its fleet can handle crew transfers, surveys, uncrewed systems, and cable support while minimizing mobilization time thanks to its extensive East Coast infrastructure. By pairing these flexible vessels with strong local management, the company helps projects stay on schedule, reduce costs, and cut emissions.

McAllister Towing’s tugboats Washington, Jane McAllister, and Rosemary McAllister tow the cable-laying vessel Prysmian ULISSE in Hampton Roads in support of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. (Photo courtesy McAllister Towing)
As McAllister begins preparing for the next wave of U.S.-built offshore support vessels, the company will attend the International Partnering Forum (IPF) and other events to strengthen its relationship with developers, OEMs, and shipyards. For McAllister, IPF isn’t just about business—it’s about community. “It’s always great to connect with the Oceantic Network team and the people driving this industry forward,” Alessandra notes.






