Green Tugs to Power Louisiana's LNG Boom with Hybrid Fleet

SEATTLE & LAKE CHARLES, La. – April 17, 2026 – A new joint venture is set to deploy a fleet of advanced hybrid tugboats to support Louisiana’s rapidly expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, marking a significant investment in both regional economic growth and sustainable maritime technology. Saltchuk Marine and Harbor Docking & Towing (HDT) have announced the formation of Green Tug Towing (GTT), a partnership that has already secured a landmark 20-year contract with Woodside Energy.

Under the agreement, GTT will design, build, and operate four state-of-the-art hybrid escort tugboats to service LNG carriers at Woodside’s new Calcasieu Parish export terminal. The move signals a strong commitment to modernizing the maritime infrastructure necessary to support America's growing role as a global energy supplier, blending the operational expertise of two established maritime firms with the latest in green vessel technology.

A Strategic Partnership for a New Energy Era

The formation of Green Tug Towing brings together Saltchuk Marine, a national leader in ship-assist and towing services, and Harbor Docking & Towing, a family-owned company with a deep-rooted, multi-generational presence along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The venture leverages Saltchuk's broad operational scale with HDT's intimate knowledge of the Calcasieu Shipping Channel, the nation's seventh busiest waterway by tonnage.

"This partnership brings two family-owned companies with shared values together to do important work," said Jason Childs, President and CEO of Saltchuk Marine. "We're proud to partner with a member of the Lake Charles maritime community that has been trusted for generations, and we look forward to building a long and productive future together.”

The 20-year service contract with Woodside Energy provides a long-term foundation for the joint venture and underscores the critical need for specialized, reliable maritime support for the burgeoning LNG export market. GTT will provide a full suite of services, including berthing and unberthing of massive LNG carriers, escort and standby services, and emergency response capabilities.

"Harbor Docking & Towing and Saltchuk Marine share a commitment to fit-for-purpose design and providing operational excellence to our customers," stated John Buchanan, President of Harbor Docking & Towing. "These tugs provide best-in-class technology and design and further expand maritime capacity and capability in southwest Louisiana."

Next-Generation Hybrid Tugs Set a Green Standard

At the heart of the new venture are the four advanced tugboats, which will be constructed by C&C Marine & Repair in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The vessels are based on Robert Allan Ltd.'s highly regarded RApport 2800H design, a platform specifically engineered for the complex and demanding environment of modern LNG terminals.

The tugs will feature a sophisticated diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. This technology allows for multiple operational modes, including a fully electric "Eco" mode for quiet, zero-emission transits and standby operations. By optimizing engine use and relying on electric power for low-speed maneuvers, the hybrid system is projected to reduce fuel consumption by 20-30% compared to conventional diesel tugs. This efficiency translates into a significant reduction in the fleet's environmental footprint, with estimates showing cuts of over 50% in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and more than 70% in particulate matter (PM).

The propulsion package, consisting of Cummins diesel engines and electric motors paired with Kongsberg Z-drive units, provides not only environmental benefits but also enhanced safety and maneuverability. The electric motors offer instantaneous torque and precise control, which are critical for the delicate operations of positioning and assisting some of the world's largest vessels. This level of control, combined with a high bollard pull of 88 metric tonnes, ensures the tugs can safely handle the massive LNG carriers that will frequent the Woodside terminal.

Fueling Louisiana's Economy and Maritime Future

The GTT contract represents a significant boost for Louisiana's local economy and its robust maritime industry. The construction of the four tugboats at C&C Marine & Repair is expected to create approximately 70 direct local jobs and dozens more in indirect and temporary roles. This award reinforces the shipyard's reputation as a leader in complex vessel construction and brings its current tugboat program for Woodside-related projects to a total of eight vessels.

This project is a key component of the much larger Woodside Louisiana LNG development, a staggering $17.5 billion investment that stands as the largest foreign direct investment in the state's history. During its construction phase, the LNG terminal project is supporting over 4,400 jobs, with Woodside committing over $1 billion to Louisiana-based suppliers, including the tugboat contract. Once operational around 2029, the terminal is expected to support thousands of permanent jobs, further cementing Louisiana's status as a global energy hub.

The maritime sector is a cornerstone of Louisiana's economy, contributing over $14 billion to the state's GDP and supporting nearly one in five jobs. This investment in advanced maritime infrastructure not only creates immediate jobs but also strengthens the long-term competitiveness of the Port of Lake Charles and the entire Calcasieu Shipping Channel.

Securing a Critical Link in the Global LNG Chain

The Green Tug Towing fleet will be an indispensable part of the logistics chain for the Woodside Louisiana LNG terminal. The facility, with a planned initial output of 16.5 million tonnes per annum, is set to become a major node in the global energy network, enhancing energy security for allies in Europe and Asia. The safe, efficient, and reliable handling of LNG carriers is paramount to the terminal's success and the stability of the supply chain.

The deployment of these specialized, high-performance hybrid tugs ensures that the terminal's marine operations will meet the highest standards of safety and environmental performance. As global demand for LNG is projected to rise by as much as 50% over the next decade, investments like the one made by Green Tug Towing are crucial for building the resilient and sustainable infrastructure needed to meet the world's future energy needs.