McAllister Towing

By R. Wisniewski

Edited by Miya Reed

McAllister Towing of Baltimore is a crucial player within the Port of Baltimore’s daily operations. Located at 1201 A Wallace Street in the Locust Point neighborhood, McAllister Towing provides tugboat services essential for the safe docking and undocking of large vessels such as container ships, bulk carriers, and cruise ships. These operations ensure that maritime traffic flows safely and efficiently through one of the busiest and most strategically important ports on the East Coast.

The ISABEL McALLISTER. (Courtesy of McAllister Towing)

Description of Location

McAllister operates from a berth in North Locust Point, a historic area on the eastern end of the South Baltimore peninsula. Once dominated by heavy industry, Locust Point now features a blend of historic rowhouses, high-tech offices, and new apartment developments. Despite these changes, the area remains home to several long-standing maritime enterprises, including McAllister Towing.

Description of McAllister Towing

McAllister Towing operates a fleet of more than sixty tugboats across major U.S. East Coast ports and Puerto Rico. In Baltimore, three of its key tugboats are the Bridget McAllister, Eric McAllister, and Vicki M. McAllister. These vessels specialize in ship docking, a vital service for maneuvering large commercial ships that cannot safely navigate tight harbor spaces on their own. Without tugboats, large cargo vessels would face a high risk of accidents while entering or leaving port, disrupting trade and endangering both personnel and infrastructure.

History

The BRIDGET McALLISTER helping to dock a ship. (Photo by Glenn T Johnston)

McAllister Towing traces its roots back to 1864, when Captain James McAllister, an immigrant from Cushendall, County Antrim, Ireland, founded the company. The enterprise began as the Greenpoint Lighterage Company and soon expanded into towing with the introduction of its first steam tug, the R.W. Burke, in the 1880s. After Captain McAllister’s death in 1916, his four sons took over and expanded operations into ocean towing by 1918. Today, the company remains family-owned and continues to play a central role in maritime logistics along the Atlantic seaboard.

Role in the Key Bridge Incident

Following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, McAllister Towing joined other members of the Port of Baltimore community in responding quickly to restore port operations. Within 77 days, coordinated efforts allowed the port to reopen to near-normal capacity. McAllister’s tugboats helped manage maritime traffic around the debris field and transported personnel and equipment to support recovery operations. Their work demonstrated the importance of tugboat operators in both emergency response and day-to-day port safety.

Tugboats Operated in Baltimore

A McALLISTER tug helping the cargo ship CS JENNA dock at Ruckert Terminal. (Photo by Glenn T Johnston)

• Bridget McAllister – Tractor Tug, 5,080 HP

• Eric McAllister – Tractor Tug, 5,150 HP

• Vicki M. McAllister – Tractor Tug, 4,650 HP

A McALLISTER tug helping the cargo ship CS JENNA dock at Ruckert Terminal. (Photo by Glenn T Johnston)

Reflection and Importance

McAllister Towing exemplifies the essential nature of support services within the Greater Baltimore Intermodal Ecosystem. Tugboats like those operated by McAllister are integral to global trade—they enable the movement of goods by ensuring that massive vessels can safely access port facilities. Beyond their operational role, companies like McAllister contribute to regional resilience, providing skilled labor, emergency response capacity, and a connection to Baltimore’s long maritime heritage.