The Galveston has a top speed of 29 knots and the ability to stop within two boat lengths when operating at full speed and make a 360 degree turn while stationary. She measures a full 70 ft long and more than 20 ft wide and was built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding. The Galveston is a sister-ship to the Galveston-Texas City pilot boat Texas and was commissioned to replace the Gal-Tex. The Texas, also built by Gladding-Hearn has been ably serving the Galveston-Texas City Pilots for the past five years. Both the Galveston and the Texas were designed to handle the unique swells and chop of the waters the Galveston-Texas City Pilots service on a daily basis. The Galveston-Texas City Pilots will be christening the Galveston as their newest pilot boat at 11 am, Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Cruise Terminal # 2 in Galveston, Texas.
On January 20, 2007, in a tragic accident, the Galveston-Texas City Pilot boat Gal-Tex capsized resulting in the loss of Capt. George “Robert” Frazier. Robert was a Galveston native and was a pilot boat operator for the Pilots for 17 years. His friends and colleagues remember that he was always dedicated, positive, friendly and willing to lend a helping hand. “The first thing he would always say to me is ‘tell me something good,’” said Wallace Hogan, Presiding Officer of the Galveston-Texas City Pilots. The Pilots were very fond of Captain Frazier and chose to honor their friend’s memory and life by dedicating the Galveston to him and his family.