Crowley Adds Tugboat Venture to Serve Los Angeles and Long Beach

U.S.-based shipping company Crowley took delivery of the chartered tugboat Venture, which will provide ship assist and escort services at the California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The vessel was built by Diversified Marine shipyard on the Columbia River and complies with Jones Act requirements.

The Venture has an overall length of 82 feet (25 meters) and is powered by two Caterpillar 3516 engines that meet EPA Tier IV standards, with a combined output of more than 6,000 hp (4,474 kW). Fitted with astern-driving (ASD) azimuthing propulsion units, the tugboat can achieve a bollard pull of 95 tons, enabling it to assist some of the largest vessels calling at North American ports.

The Venture joins sister tugboats Athena, Apollo, Hercules and Artemis within Crowley's West Coast fleet, all likewise built by Diversified Marine. According to Baird Maritime, Hercules and Athena were initially assigned to Puget Sound, while Apollo began operating in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021.

John Ara, Crowley's vice president of marine services, stated that the Venture strengthens ship assist and escort capabilities at Los Angeles and Long Beach, providing the capacity and performance needed to support trade along that key corridor. According to Ara, the tugboat's advanced maneuverability and powerful engines allow it to meet the demand of some of the largest vessels calling at the West Coast.

According to Maritime Executive, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach make up the busiest container port complex in the country, making escort tugboats like the Venture critical for the safe and continuous movement of cargo through the San Pedro Bay access.