Robert Allan Ltd.
Robert Allan Ltd. is a globally renowned Canadian company specializing in the design of commercial workboats, particularly tugboats, and other vessels for various marine applications. Founded in 1930 by Robert Allan, the company has earned a reputation for innovative design, engineering excellence, and a strong commitment to quality. Its headquarters are located in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Key Aspects of Robert Allan Ltd.:
History and Legacy:
- Founding: Established in 1930, initially focusing on local tug, barge, and ferry designs.
- Evolution: Over the decades, the company has grown and flourished, expanding its range of services and its global footprint.
Specialization:
- Tugboats: Known primarily for their advanced tugboat designs, which are used worldwide in diverse and challenging environments.
- Fireboats, Barges, and Workboats: In addition to tugboats, the company designs a variety of specialized vessels tailored to meet the needs of different maritime industries.
Innovative Designs:
- RAstar and RAmparts Series: Well-known series of tugboat designs that offer high efficiency, stability, and safety.
- Environmental Considerations: Incorporating eco-friendly technologies and designs to reduce environmental impact.
Global Reach:
- International Projects: Robert Allan Ltd. has an extensive portfolio of projects spanning multiple continents, delivering vessels to clients around the world.
- Collaborations: Works closely with shipyards and marine operators globally to ensure that design specifications meet local and international standards.
Engineering and Consulting Services:
- Custom Designs: Providing bespoke design solutions to meet specific client needs.
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: Offering comprehensive engineering services including hull form development, structural design, and stability analysis.
- Consulting: Advising on vessel modifications, retrofits, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Commitment to Quality and Safety:
- Standards: Adhering to rigorous quality standards and best practices in naval architecture.
- Safety: Emphasizing safety in all designs, ensuring that vessels can operate efficiently and securely under various conditions.
Leadership and Innovation:
- Industry Influence: Robert Allan Ltd. is considered a leader in the maritime design industry, often setting trends and introducing innovations.
- Research and Development: Continuing to invest in R&D to enhance vessel performance, environmental sustainability, and operational efficiency.
Notable Projects:
- The company has been involved in numerous high-profile projects, including the design of some of the most sophisticated and powerful tugboats and specialized workboats in operation today.
Vision and Future:
- Sustainability: Focused on integrating green technologies and sustainable design practices.
- Technological Advancements: Continually leveraging the latest advancements in technology to improve the functionality and efficiency of their vessels.
In summary, Robert Allan Ltd. stands as a paragon of naval architecture and marine engineering, recognized for its comprehensive and forward-thinking vessel designs, commitment to quality, and substantial impact on the global maritime industry.
- Phone: 604-736-9466
- Web: www.ral.bc.ca
- Fax: 604-736-9483
Locations
Robert Allan Ltd. News
New Pusher Tugs for Hidrovias do Brasil

Hidrovias do Brasil S.A. has started operating two new pusher tugs custom-designed by Vancouver, Canada based Robert Allan Ltd, pushing barges containing bulk products along the Amazon River system. This HB PIRARARA shallow-draft pusher tug and sister vessel HB PIRARUCU have a Robert allan RApide 4000-Z3 tug design and were constructed by Estaleiro Rio Maguari in Belem, Brazil.Computational Fluid Dynamics…
ESG Launches Z-Drive Tug for Bisso Offshore

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has announced the launching of the first of two (2) 80’ 5,100 HP Z-Drive Tugs. The C.D. WHITE for Bisso Offshore, LLC, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc., launched on August 22, 2019. A RAL RApport 2400 Z-Drive Ship-handling Tug design was provided by Robert Allan Ltd located in Vancouver, Canada. The C.D. White is currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility, along with a sister vessel, the A. THOMAS HIGGINS. The C.D.
MN100: Robert Allan Ltd.

Prominent on this year's prestigous MarineNews MN100 list is Robert Allan Ltd. Robert Allan Ltd. is a recognized world leader in innovative Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering with a particular focus on harbor and seagoing tugs, shallow draft towing vessels and fireboats for major world ports. Robert Allan Ltd. has won many awards for their design work from a variety of publications and other organizations.The Company:Robert Allan Ltd.
RAL Intros Rapid Fire-Fighting Vessel
A new 16m uncrewed fire-fighting vessel in Robert Allan Ltd, the RALamander series is designed to attack fires quickly & powerfully in busy ports without risking…
RAL, MTU Team Up on LNG Pushboat

Natural gas is quickly becoming the “fuel of choice” for the maritime industry, not only for its potential in reducing environmentally hazardous gas emissions, but also for its reduced cost when compared to other fossil fuel-based alternatives.For natural gas to become a preferred marine fuel, its availability needs to improve, and this fact alone has hindered its growth in some parts of the world.
PSA Marine Takes Delivery of Dual Fuel Tug
Singapore container terminal PSA Marine has taken delivery of a dual fuel ship-handling tug from local builder PaxOcean Shipyard.Named PSA Aspen, the Robert Allan…
Port of Luleå 36m Hybrid Icebreaker Tug Delivered

The powerful 36 meter hybrid icebreaker tug Vilja was delivered to her Owner, Port of Luleå, on June 26th, 2019 at Gondan Shipyard in Spain. On July 4th, Vilja arrived in Luleå and the crew was very satisfied with the first sailing experience and tug performance on the journey home. The vessel will soon be used for ice management, firefighting and navigation aids service duties in the Port of Luleå…
Two RAstar 3200 Vessels Christened in HK
Hongkong Salvage & Towage, a division of HUD Group, has added two new high-performance tugs to their fleet.A press release from Robert Allan Ltd.(RAL) said that RAstar 3200 vessels…
Robert Allan to Design Canadian Navy Tugs

Robert Allan Ltd. announced that they have been awarded the contract from Ocean Industries Inc., a related corporation of Ocean Group Inc., to design a new generation of Ship Handling tugs to be built at the Ocean Industries Inc. shipyard at L'Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec for the Royal Canadian Navy. Four tugs are to be built, with two delivered to each of Canada’s major naval bases, at Esquimalt, BC and Halifax…
RAL Designs New Tugs for Ocean Group
Canadian naval architectural firm Robert Allan (RAL) announced they have been awarded the contract from Ocean Industries to design a new generation of Ship Handling…
SST Tsimshian Warrior Blessed
SAAM SMIT Canada Inc. (SST Canada) held a blessing ceremony for a new RAstar 3200-W escort tug named SST Tsimshian Warrior built by Turkey’s UZMAR Shipyard.This new Robert Allan Ltd.
Sanmar Begins Construction of New RASTAR
Canada's oldest privately owned consulting Naval Architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) announced that Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey started the construction of…
Third RAmparts 2400-W Tugboat Lima Delivered

Jiangsu Wuxi Shipyard delivered the ship-assist tug Lima, a Robert Allan Ltd. RAmparts 2400-W design to TRAMARSA in Peru recently. The new vessel is named after the Lima Civilization, which was established long before the Inca Empire and is also the name of the capital and largest city in Peru today. Lima is a sister of her precursors Chincha and Tupaq which were delivered by the same builder in 2016.The Particulars of tugboat Lima:Length Overall: 24.40 mBeam…
RAL Designs Tugs for Alfons Hakans
Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) has been selected as the designer of new icebreaking tugs for Alfons Hakans, a major tugboat owner and operator in Finland.The collaboration between Alfons Hakans…
RAstar 3200 Tugs Dazzle at Blessing Ceremony

On February 13, the two new RAstar 3200 escort tugs SST Grizzly and SST Orca for SAAM SMIT TOWAGE CANADA Inc. (SST Canada) were the toasts of a blessing ceremony in Vancouver Harbor.Designed by Robert Allan Ltd and built at Cheoy Lee Shipyards, these two significant additions to the SST Canada fleet were showcased to guests aboard the luxury harbor cruising vessel Pacific Yacht. Distinguished guests for the evening included local First Nations leaders…
A Second Z-Tech 6500 Tug for ICDAS

In mid October 2018, ICDAS Turkey completed construction of its second Z-Tech 6500 tug, the KARA YUSUF-2, which will operate in Çanakkale Turkey. After successful construction and operation in 2011 of the ICDAS-19, the first Z-Tech 6500 tug of its fleet, ICDAS decided to build a second one.The deck machinery comprises a hydraulic towing winch DWF 35x130H on the bow, spooled with 200 m of Ø56 tow line. An independent anchor windlass is provided on aft deck.
Next Generation of Z-Tech Tugs Arrive

At the end of 2018, Gulf Island Shipyards completed the first of ten Z-Tech 30-80 tugs, five of which were ordered by Bay Houston Towing Company through its operator G & H Towing Company in Galveston, Texas. The Z-Tech 30-80 tug Mark E. Kuebler evolved from the previous Z-Tech 7500 design for the same owner. Once again, the design team and client worked seamlessly addressing operational challenges the vessel will face.
Gulf Island Delivers Terminal/Escort Tug to Bay Houston Towing

Gulf Island Fabrication announced that its Shipyard Division has successfully delivered the M/V Mark E. Kuebler, a Z-Tech 30-80 Terminal/Escort Tug to Bay Houston Towing Company.The M/V Mark E. Kuebler was designed by Robert Allan Ltd of Vancouver, BC. and built at Gulf Island’s, Jennings, Louisiana facilities. The vessel will be operated by G&H Towing on behalf of Bay Houston Towing Company. Gulf…
Robert Allan to Design Turkey’s TOR Group Tugs
Canada's oldest privately owned marine engineering services Robert Allan Ltd announced that it has signed a contract with the Turkey based TOR Group of Companies (TOR)…
ATB Push Tug Island Raider Enters Service
Canada-based provider of oil cargo transportation services Island Tug and Barge Ltd informed that s new ATB push tug the Island Raider has entered service pushing…