It’s ironic that New York City’s most powerful tugboat is named after two year old Janet M. McAllister, who, dressed smartly in a sailor suit, christened her namesake in a ritual at New York City’s South Street Seaport in late July. She is the daughter of Buckley McAllister, vice president and general counsel of the family-owned company. The event, to welcome the 96-ft. (29.2 m), 5,000-hp, Eastern Shipbuilding-built tugboat home, drew a crowd of industry and non-industry gawkers as the vessel was put through its paces off of Pier 16.
Powered by a pair of EMD 12-645 E7B diesel engines which generate 5,000 hp for the Schottel SRP 1212 Steerable Kort Nozzle Rudder Propellers, the vessel is able to achieve a free running speed of 13.6 knots.
As is to be expected from a vessel of this type, maneuverability is, in a word, incredible; a fact surely confirmed by the hundreds of people that stopped to stare as the vessel approached the pier at full speed, turning at the last second and initiating a series of tight circular spins. Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle and classed by ABS, the vessel is capable of developing 120,000 ponds of push or pull in any direction.