CT Marine Announces Expansion, New Vessel Plans

CT Marine, known for its custom designs of some of the highest horsepower linehaul boats on the river, is expanding its offerings, its U.S. employment and its office space.

The company recently debuted five new stock designs for boats of around 2,400 hp. or smaller. One of these is a truckable tug of about 600 horsepower, which doesn’t require a licensed captain.

The designs are for Subchapter M-approved vessels with all the documentation to build them and licensing for under $150,000, CEO Christian Townsend said.

“They’re getting the most respected designs at a fraction of the cost,” he said. “They are the most proven designs today. We’re pulling these designs from more than 2,000 projects.”

Christian Townsend’s son, Scout Townsend, recently graduated from the naval architecture program at the University of Michigan. In addition to his new degree, he got a new job title, vice president of engineering, along with an ownership stake. After years of working part-time for the company, he is now helping to lead it while also pursuing his master’s degree.

Scout is the third generation of Townsend men to make his career at CT Marine. His grandfather, Christian’s father, Capt. Corning Townsend III, founded the company in 1978. Corning is also an alumnus of the University of Michigan, which is among the top-rated schools for the profession in the nation. Corning Townsend transferred ownership to Christian in 2017. The company is based in Portland, Maine.

The new designs are specifically for brown-water applications, with Scout Townsend leading the strategic vision for them.

“It’s really, after 60 years, a big move to expand like this,” Christian Townsend said.

The company is increasing its U.S. footprint and employment as well.

Christian Townsend said he is in the process of hiring additional employees. One recent hire is Joe Burgoyne, a naval architect and marine engineer who received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and is currently based in Texas.

The company expects to expand to an office barge in Portland within the next 18 months. While some employees are specifically involved in the new designs, Townsend said others will expand the team of U.S. administrators overseeing the design work of architects in Goa, India, working for sister company Hyperion Marine Group.

Additionally, CT Marine continues to move forward with plans for its e70, an all-electric harbor vessel with an interchangeable battery container that can be rapidly swapped at crew change. CT Marine released the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the e70 in September and expects to award the RFP within days. Over the past year, the company has refined the electric designs and now offers the vessels in three different sizes.

Townsend said he expects the first e70 to be delivered to California in 2027 and for a fleet of boats later heading to Texas.

Featured photo caption: Joe Burgoyne, a naval architect and marine engineer, is one of the recently hired employees at CT , which is announcing an expansion along with five new stock vessel designs. (Photo courtesy of CT Marine)