The first new builds at New Pacific's historic Vancouver waterfront facility are vessels designed by Glosten, measuring 122 feet.
New Pacific Industrial (NP) has started its first shipbuilding project by constructing two American Class tugboats, each 122 feet long, for American Marine Corporation (AMC) at its facility in Vancouver, Washington. These vessels are also significant as they mark the first new tugboat construction for American Marine in its 50 years of operation, designed by the naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten.
“As we celebrate fifty years in business, this new tugboat represents a major milestone and an investment in our future,” said Bob Shahnazarian, President and Owner of American Marine Corporation. “We were looking for a team that could handle everything from our operational needs to the design, construction, and delivery phases. New Pacific and Glosten provide that consistency throughout the project.”
“New Pacific was founded on the idea that complex projects need skilled people, reliable infrastructure, and a model that works for the customer,” said Joe Corvelli, CEO of New Pacific. “Launching a new-build program with American Marine and Glosten allows us to put this model into action from the very start.”
New Pacific Kicks Off with a Key First Build
The first build for New Pacific continues the shipbuilding heritage of its Vancouver waterfront site. This location was previously home to the historic Kaiser Shipyards, which produced vessels during World War II. Today, it supports modern shipbuilding and heavy industrial operations along the Columbia River.
Founded by Joe Corvelli, COO Chris Palmer, and CCO Peter Roney, the leaders at New Pacific bring over 90 years of combined experience in commercial and government shipbuilding, marine operations, and advanced manufacturing.
“We are building on a site with a rich industrial history, but our aim is not to recreate the past. We want to enhance the capabilities that the Pacific region needs today,” Chris Palmer, COO of New Pacific, said. “Our goal is to build on the area’s strong workforce and supplier network and bring significant industrial work back to this waterfront.”
New Pacific’s facility spans over 180,000 square feet and supports shipbuilding, heavy industrial fabrication, and integrated program delivery, featuring high-bay fabrication space, heavy-lift crane capacity, outdoor storage areas, and access to rail and barge for large maritime projects.
“This project reflects our approach to working with customers and industry partners: accessible, transparent, and flexible, with the expertise and resources to create the right solution for each program,” said Peter Roney, CCO of New Pacific.
Glosten Takes Charge of Vessel Design and Engineering
Glosten is in charge of the vessel design and engineering package based on its CT-120 model, which is designed for long-distance towing and rigorous offshore operations. Working alongside American Marine and New Pacific, Glosten adapted the design to meet AMC’s specific operational needs while keeping the CT-120’s focus on range, towing ability, constructability, and operational efficiency.
“AMC wanted a modern line-haul tug made for long, challenging ocean tows,” said Peter Soles, Principal of Business Development at Glosten. “It had to be a true ocean vessel—capable and practical, designed for comfortable living and working, and built to tow effectively for years. The CT-120 gave us a solid foundation, but this design is very much tailored to American Marine. We collaborated closely with their team to ensure the design incorporates their extensive experience in deep-ocean towing.”
Specially Designed Tugs for American Marine's Operations
The 499 GT (<200 GRT) tugs will measure 122 × 37 feet overall, with an operating draft of 17 feet and a maximum fuel capacity of 130,000 gallons. Each tug will be powered by twin Wabtec marine diesel engines, each rated at 3,017 horsepower, paired with a REINTJES reverse-reduction gearbox supplied by Karl Senner. The propulsion system will utilize 120-inch stainless steel propellers in Nautican nozzles, along with a Nautican triple-rudder setup for improved maneuverability.
With a bollard pull exceeding 85 metric tons, the tugs will also feature a Markey Machine diesel-powered, double-drum towing winch that can carry 2,600 feet of 2¼-inch wire rope on each drum, along with a single-drum headline winch equipped with a clutchable warping head. Smith Berger will supply a flush-mounted pin table and Shark Jaws.
The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2028.
For more details about New Pacific, visit www.newpacific.us.