Crescent towing adds new 6,000 hp z-drive tugboat to mississippi river operations
MOBILE, ALABAMA – Crescent Towing has taken delivery of the M/V Kentucky, a new 6,000 HP Tier 4 Z-drive tugboat constructed at Blakeley BoatWorks in Mobile, Alabama. The M/V Kentucky began service in early 2026 and will soon be added to Crescent Towing’s ship assist operations on the Lower Mississippi River.
This vessel is the second 6,000 HP tugboat built by Blakeley BoatWorks for Crescent Towing. The M/V Kentucky is 92’ long and 38’ wide, with a draft of 19’ and powered by twin Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4 engines, each producing 3,004HP to power Kongsberg 255 fixed-pitch Azimuthing drives (Z-drives).
“Crescent Towing is proud to introduce the M/V Kentucky to the maritime community on the Mississippi River,” said Scott H. Cooper, President of Crescent Towing. “This new 6,000 HP vessel will be a great addition to our fleet on the Mississippi River and will further strengthen our abilities to provide the best service to our customers.”
“It’s been a pleasure to watch the Crescent Towing Port Engineering Team work together with the fine professionals at Blakeley BoatWorks to produce these extraordinary vessels,” said Keith Kettenring, Executive Vice President of Crescent Towing. “Their success shows in the craftsmanship and attention to detail seen on the recent deliveries of tugs M/V Kentucky and M/V Angus R. Cooper II.”
The M/V Kentucky is built to ABS classification Maltese Cross, A-1 towing, AMS, full ocean service, international load line, and escort class towing. The tug, designed by Crowley Engineering Services, has a fuel capacity of 43,846 gallons and a potable water capacity of 16,811 gallons.
“Blakeley BoatWorks is proud to carry forward our collaboration with Crescent Towing in building this class of 6,000 HP tugboats. The opportunity to deliver highly advanced vessels for service on the Mississippi River represents a significant achievement and a source of great pride for our entire organization,” said Swathin Kannalath, Managing Director of Blakeley BoatWorks.
About Crescent Towing:
Since 1942, Crescent Towing has operated as one of the premier ship assist towing providers in the United States and today, operates on the Mississippi River and in the ports of Mobile, Alabama and Savannah, Georgia. Powered by 24 tugboats with up to 6,700 HP, Crescent Towing operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced ship assist fleets in the world. Crescent Towing is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cooper Group. To learn more, visit: www.crescenttowing.com.
About Blakeley BoatWorks:
Situated on 26 acres in heart of the port of Mobile and with capacity to simultaneously service up to 15 towing vessels and barges, Blakeley BoatWorks (BBW) is a full-service shipyard specializing in small vessel repair, barge repair, and new vessel construction. Equipped with a 1,900-ton floating dry dock, 660-ton travel lift, and four covered fabrication shops, BBW is the Gulf Coast's premier towing vessel shipyard. BBW is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cooper Group. To learn more, visit: www.blakeleyboatworks.com.
About The Cooper Group:
The Cooper Group is anchored by one of America’s oldest and largest stevedoring and maritime firms. Established in 1905, The Cooper Group has operations on all three U.S. coasts and international operations in Mexico. The company maintains ownership in numerous satellite companies, including warehousing, terminal operations, tugboats, push boats, barging, barge fleeting, floating terminals, logistics, forestry operations, vessel repair, and restaurants. The company’s experienced, action-oriented people, state-of-the-art equipment and automated facilities provide customers with safe, efficient and cost-effective movement of cargo anywhere. For more information, visit: www.thecoopergroup.com.