In June 2026, Sail250® Virginia will welcome a fleet of international and U.S. tall ships, historic character vessels, and modern military ships to Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay region. More than 60 ships from 20 countries are expected to participate, helping us commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. There is unprecedented interest in this event, and we are excited to share with you the ships already committed to participating. Be sure to check back as the list of participating ships will be updated regularly!
LIBERTAD sails the world as a training vessel and floating ambassador for Argentina. The ship was launched in 1956 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and commissioned in 1963. LIBERTAD is a full rigged ship, with square sails on all three masts. The ship has participated in numerous tall ship events, including the OpSail@ events in the U.S. in 1964, 1976, 1986, 1992, and 2012. The ship sails as both a floating ambassador for Argentina and a training vessel for its Navy. LIBERTAD will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
The ESMERALDA was built in Cadiz, Spain, originally for the Spanish Navy. An explosion and fire damaged the ship and sent the yard into near bankruptcy. The governments of Spain and Chile arranged a deal to transfer ownership of the vessel to Chile in return for forgiving loans owed from the Spanish Civil War. Work resumed and the barquentine was commissioned in 1953. ESMERALDA now sails as the sail training vessel of the Chilean Navy and as an ambassador for her country. ESMERALDA will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
The three masted barque, GLORIA, is the sail training vessel of the Colombian Navy. Built in Spain, it was commissioned on September 7, 1968. GLORIA regularly attends tall ship events and regattas as an international ambassador for Colombia. During voyages, Colombian naval cadets are trained in leadership, navigation, and seamanship. GLORIA will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia, June 19-23, 2026.
Ecuador’s sail training vessel, GUAYAS, is a three masted barque built in Spain and commissioned on July 23, 1977. The ship serves as an international ambassador for Ecuador, while training naval cadets during extended voyages throughout the world. It is a regular participant in tall ship events and has sailed throughout North and South America, Asia, and Australia. GUAYAS will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
Homeported in Brest, France, the BELLE POULE is the sail training vessel of the French Navy. The schooner was built in 1932 and is based on the French "Paimpolaise" style fishing vessels, which were used for by French sailors to fish the waters off Iceland for cod. During World War II, BELLE POULE and her sister schooner, ETOILE, served as training platforms for the French Naval Free Force in England. Today, the schooner is used to train naval midshipmen in seamanship, navigation, and leadership during multi-week voyages. BELLE POULE will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
L'INTREPIDE is a modern sloop, built in 2009-2010. It sails for the French Navy and in the summer of 2026 hosts midshipmen from both the French and U.S. Naval Academies to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the French Navy and the 250th anniversary of the United States. While participating in the sloop's "Sail for Liberty" transatlantic voyage, midshipmen will study leadership, seamanship, and navigation while sailing approximately 10,000 nautical miles in three months. L'INTREPID will be in Portsmouth, VA June 19-22, 2026.
Germany’s three masted barque, GORCH FOCK, was commissioned on December 17, 1968. The vessel was built in Hamburg’s Blohm & Voss shipyard and named after the German writer Johann Kinau, who used “Gorch Fock” as a pseudonym. The ship sails for the German Navy, the Deutsche Marine, training naval cadets during voyages throughout the world. GORCH FOCK will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
SUDARSHINI is a sail training vessel of the Indian Navy and was built in 2011-2012. The ship is a floating ambassador for India while simultaneously providing an educational platform for naval cadets undertaking seamanship and navigation training. The barque has sailed extensively throughout southeast Asia. SUDARSHINI will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® VirginiaJune 19-23, 2026.
OOSTERSCHELDE is homeported in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The square topsail schooner was built in 1918 as a cargo vessel. The schooner underwent a major rebuild between 1996-1998 and has since made numerous long voyages, including a circumnavigation between 2012-2014. Between
2024-2025, OOSTERSCHELDE again sailed the world, following the route of Charles Darwin’s voyage on the BEAGLE. OOSTERSCHELDE will participate in the Richmond SailFest June 12-14, 2026, and in Norfolk as part of Sail250® VirginiaJune 19-23, 2026.
Peru’s tall ship, BAP UNIÓN, is one of the world’s newest sail training vessels. The vessel is a four masted barque, which had its keel laid on December 8, 2012. It was commissioned on January 27, 2016, and has since sailed both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with cadets from Peru’s navy. Like many tall ships, it serves as an ambassador for its country during these voyages. BAP UNIÓN will be in Norfolk June 19-23, 2026 as part of Sail250® Virginia.
DAR MLODZIEZY sails for Gdynia Maritime Academy in Poland. The ship's name means "the gift of youth". The ship was built at the Gdansk Shipyard in Poland and has participated in numerous tall ship races and festivals around the world. In 1987-88, DAR MLODZIEZY made a circumnavigation of the earth, sailing 36,352 nautical miles over 274 days. The ship conducts underway education for the academy's cadets as well as youth sail training for Polish and International students. DAR MLODZIEZY will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
SAGRES is the sail training vessel of Portugal's Navy. The barque was built at the famous Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg Germany. SAGRES is a sister ship of the USCGC EAGLE and the Romanian tall ship MIRCEA. The ship was taken as a war prize by the U.S. following World WAR I before being transferred to service in the Brazilian Navy. Portugal bought the vessel in 1961, when it took on its current name and mission. SAGRES sails with Navy cadets, who undertake seamanship, navigation, and leadership. In 2010, SAGRES sailed more than 35,000 nautical miles during a circumnavigation. SAGRES will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026. You can learn more about SAGRES by visiting the ship's webpage - https://sagres.marinha.pt/pt.
N.S. MIRCEA was built at the Blohm and Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany for the Romanian Navy in 1938. During World War II, the vessel was captured by the USSR and kept as a war reparation, before being returned to Romania in 1946. MIRCEA is a barque – three masts, with square sails on the fore and main masts and fore and aft sails on the mizzen (aft most) mast. The barque sails as the official vessel of the Romanian Navy and has participated in numerous sail training festivals and races throughout the world, including the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial in New York harbor and more recent festivals across Europe. The MIRCEA is the sister ship of the USCG barque EAGLE, the SAGRES from Portugal, and the GORCH FOCK from Germany. MIRCEA will be in Norfolk June 19-23, 2026 as part of Sail250® Virginia.
JUAN SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO is the sail training vessel of the Spanish Navy. The four masted topsail schooner was built in 1927 and is named after the first navigator to have circumnavigated the world. The vessel conducts sail training for the Spanish Navy's midshipmen, teaching leadership, seamanship, and navigation lessons while sailing the world. JUAN SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
GLADAN is one of two sail training vessels operated by the Swedish Navy’s Skonertdivionen (The Schooner Squadron). GLADAN and her sister ship, FALKEN were designed by former Navy director Tore Herlin and built in 1947 to replace the full rigged ships JARRAMAS and NAJADEN. GLADAN is a square topsail schooner, typical of Baltic pilot schooners. It sails with naval cadets, undertaking seamanship, navigation, and leadership training during voyages throughout the world while cadets face the challenges of heavy weather and real-world situations at sea. GLADAN will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
A.J. MEERWALD is the official tall ship of New Jersey and an original Delaware Bay oyster schooner, which built in 1928. Today, the schooner sails as an educational platform, focusing on environmental education. A.J. MEERWALD will be participating in Hampton's Blackbeard Pirate Festival June 12-14, 2026, and SailFest Cape Charles, June 19-21, 2026.
The American Rover is a Three-Masted Top Sail Schooner is celebrating her 40th Anniversary Season. Her hull was built in Panama City Florida, and she was fitted out in Norfolk. Since 1986 she has operated from Waterside in Downtown Norfolk, offering harbor tours, sunset sails, field trips, special events and private parties. Her distinctive Red Sails are an icon on the Virginia Waterfront. AMERICAN ROVER is a U.S. Coast Guard Certified and Inspected for up to 129 Passengers.
BOWDOIN was built in 1921, the schooner spent much of its early life in the Arctic under the command of explorer Donald B. MacMillian. The schooner made 26 voyages to the Arctic between 1921 and 1954. In 2024, BOWDOIN again sailed northward, sailing up the Davis Straight on the western side of Greenland. During voyages in New England and the Canadian Maritimes, BOWDOIN provides a practical platform for MMA students to develop skills in seamanship, celestial navigation, and watch standing. BOWDOIN will be in Norfolk as part of Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
The Poquoson style buy-boat F.D. CROCKETT was originally built in 1924 in Dare, VA, and represents a unique place in the design and construction of traditional Chesapeake Bay fishing vessels. The boat's hull consists of nine logs, hollowed out and fitted together. This construction process evolved from Chesapeake Bay log canoes, built by the Powhatan tribes of the area and adopted by English settlers and African Americans, who went on to add sails to their canoes. F.D. CROCKETT represents the end of the log canoe development - one of only two remaining log-bottom buy-boats originally built to be powered by a gasoline engine. In 2005, the F.D. CROCKETT was donated to the Deltaville Maritime Museum and underwent a major restoration, with more than 8500 volunteer hours of work. In 2012, the buy-boat was named to the Virginia Landmarks Register and in the National Registry of Historic Places. F.D. CROCKETT will be participating in the Smithfield Maritime Rendezvous, June 12-14, 2026, and SailFest Cape Charles June 19-21, 2026.
The GAZELA PRIMEIRO was built in Setubal, Portugal in 1901 for the Grand Banks fishing industry. With a crew of about 40 men and about 35 dories, a type of small rowed fishing boat, the GAZELLA spent months each year on the Grand Banks. The ship would harvest up to 350 tons of fish, salting the cod down to preserve it during the remainder of the voyage. GAZELA's last voyage to the Grad Banks took place in 1969. Today, the ship lives in Philadelphia, PA and sails with a crew of volunteers to maritime festivals on the East Coast. GAZELA will participate in Alexandria's Sails on the Potomac June 12-14, 2026 and Portsmouth, VA's Affiliate Harbor Event June 19-23, 2026.
GODSPEED is a recreation of one of the three ships that brought the first permanent English settlers in North America to Jamestown, VA in May 1607. The ship is part of Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum in Williamsburg, VA and sails each year to conduct public tours and educational programs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. GODSPEED will participate in Sail Yorktown FestivalJune 12-14, 2026, and Sail250® Virginiain Norfolk June 19-23, 2026.
KALMAR NYCKEL is a recreation of a ship that brought the first Swedish colonists to what in now Delaware in 1638. The original ship was built in the Netherlands in 1627 and purchased by a Swedish company in 1629. The reproduction ship was built in Wilmington, DE in the 1990s and sails as an educational platform, with schools and public programs. KALMAR NYCKEL will be participating in Sails on the Potomac in Alexandria, VA June 12-14, 2026 and SailFest Cape Charles, June 19-21, 2026.
LADY MARYLAND is a uniquely Chesapeake Bay vessel. This pungy schooner is typical of Bay cargo schooners from the late 19th and early 20th century, sporting a popular pink and green paint scheme. Vessels like LADY MARYLAND carried coal, lumber, agricultural products, and lamp oil. Today, the schooner sails for Living Classroom Foundation in Baltimore, conducting environmental education programs. LADY MARYLAND will be Onancock for their Onancock Sails Forwardevent June 12-14, 2026. To learn more about the schooner and its programs, visit -.
LUNA is a recreation of an 18th century colonial sloop. Sloops were a regular sight along the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Seaboard - transporting goods and people as well as serving in the Royal Navy and the early American Navy. LUNA is operated by the Colonial Seaport Foundation, an educational group located in Deltaville, VA. LUNA will participate in Sail Yorktown FestivalJune 12-14, 2026.
LYNX is a recreation of a War of 1812 Baltimore clipper. The schooner sails primarily on the East Coast of the United States from Georgia to New England while offering sailing opportunities for the public and schools. LYNX will be participating in Hampton's Blackbeard Pirate Festival June 12-14, 2026, and SailFest Cape Charles, June 19-21, 2026.
In 1634, the ARK and the DOVE sailed to the Chesapeake Bay from England, establishing the colony of Maryland. MARYLAND DOVE is a reproduction of the smaller of those two ships, and the second reproduction to have that name. This replica was built at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD and launched in 2022. It is homeported at Historic St. Mary's City, a living history museum in southern Maryland. MARYLAND DOVE will be part of Sail250® Virginiain Norfolk June 19-23, 2026.
MILDRED BELLE is an original Chesapeake Bay buyboat. Built in Virginia around 1948, the buyboat now serves as an educational platform for Living Classrooms Foundation, based in Baltimore, MD.
Buyboats were often the middlemen in the fishing industry - buying fish, crabs, and oysters from sailing vessels (skipjacks and schooners) and transporting those catches to markets on shore. Some buyboats, like MILDRED BELLE, did also directly engage in Bay fishing - dredging crabs during the winter, trawling fish, and even pioneering the sports fishing industry. MILDRED BELLE will participate in the Smithfield Maritime Rendezvous June 12-14, 2026.
United States of America, NORFOLK REBEL
Sparred Length: 60ft Draft: 6ft Beam: 15ft
NORFOLK REBEL has been a mainstay at almost every maritime festival in Norfolk since her christening in 1980. She is the world’s only sail assisted tugboat, and an early harbinger to today’s reintroduction of sail power to commercial shipping. Her builder, Lane Briggs was instrumental in creating the first Norfolk Harborfest® and Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race events.
PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II is a reproduction of a War of 1812 privateer. The square topsail schooner represents the ingenuity and talent of American shipbuilders from the Fells Point area of Baltimore, MD who designed and built the Baltimore clippers. The schooner was launched in 1988 and has sailed as an ambassador to China, Europe, and throughout the United States. PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II will be part of Richmond Sailfest June 12-14, 2026 and Sail250® Virginiain Norfolk June 19-23, 2026.
PROVIDENCE is a re-creation of an American sloop from the Revolutionary War. The original ship was a cargo vessel named KATY before it was chartered by the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1775. Renamed PROVIDENCE when she was taken into Continental service, the sloop participated in campaigns along the East Coast and in the Bahamas. PROVIDENCE is best known as John Paul Jones's first command. The reproduction vessel was built in 1976 for America's Bicentennial and was now sails from Alexandria, VA. The sloop will participate in Alexandria's Sails on the Potomac event June 12-14, 2026.
SIGSBEEis an original Chesapeake Bay skipjack - a traditional sailing craft that evolved in the Chesapeake Bay and was primarily used for oyster dredging.
SIGSBEE was built in 1901 and dredged commercially for 88 years before being restored and converted to an educational platform for teaching marine science to students. The skipjack sails from Baltimore, MD - part of Living Classroom Foundation's fleet of educational vessels. SIGSBEE will participate in the Smithfield Maritime RendezvousJune 12-14, 2026. To learn more about the buy boat and its programs, visit - https://livingclassrooms.org/programs/maritime-education.
The original SULTANA sailed American waters for the British Royal Navy, preventing smuggling and enforcing tax duties. The modern reproduction was built in Chestertown, MD in 2001 and sails as an educational vessel for the Sultana Education Foundation. Sailing on the schooner in the Chester River of Chesapeake Bay allows elementary through college aged students to visualize history, study marine science, and put mathematics to practical use in a maritime environment. SULTANA will participate in Alexandria's Sails on the Potomacevent June 12-14, 2026, and Chesapeake's Charter to Chesapeake event on June 19-22, 2026.
The United States Coast Guard Barque EAGLE was built at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany as the HORST WESSEL. Commissioned in 1936, she was taken as a war reparation after World War II, renamed, and commissioned as the training vessel of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Today, she trains midshipmen from the Academy and candidates from the USCG Officer Candidate School while representing the United States and the U.S. Coast Guard during goodwill voyages throughout the world. EAGLE will be in Norfolk for Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
VIRGINIA is a re-creation of the last all sail vessel built for the Virginia Pilot Association in 1917. The schooner sailed for the VPA until 1926, holding station at Cape Henry and boarding pilots onto steam vessels entering Hampton Roads. The re-created VIRGINIA was built in Norfolk, VA in 2005. Between 2006-2013, the schooner conducted sail training programs with students from Virginia and elsewhere as it sailed the East coast, Caribbean, and Canadian Maritimes. The schooner now is now docked at Nauticus as part of the Sail Nauticus program. VIRGINIA will participate in Richmond SailfestJune 12-14, 2026 and Sail250® Virginia in Norfolk June 19-23, 2026.
The CAPITÁN MIRANDA serves as a sail training vessel for the Navy of Uruguay. The ship was built in 1930 and originally served as a geographical survey ship. Retired from that role, it was converted to a three masted schooner and re-entered service in 1978. CAPITÁN MIRANDA sails the world as an ambassador for Uruguay while serving as a training platform for the country’s naval cadets. CAPITÁN MIRANDA will be in Norfolk for Sail250® Virginia June 19-23, 2026.
OTHER SHIPS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FERDINAND R. HASSLER
Sparred Length: 123ft Draft: 12ft Beam: 61ft
NOAA Ship FERDINAND R. HASSLER was built by VT Halter Marine Inc. in Pascagoula, Mississippi and commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia during OpSail2012® Virginia on June 8, 2012. Named for the first superintendent for the United States Survey of the Coast, the NOAA Ship FERDINAND R. HASSLERis a premier 124-foot hydrographic survey vessel homeported in New Castle, New Hampshire. Carrying a dedicated complement of 14 personnel, the ship uses a specialized SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) design for maximum stability. It employs advanced multibeam and side-scan sonar to detect underwater hazards and create 3D seafloor models accurate to within 10 centimeters. From updating nautical charts along the USA's Atlantic coast and the Gulf of America to providing critical emergency response after major hurricanes, HASSLER serves as a vital tool for coastal resilience, navigation safety, and marine exploration. FERDINAND R. HASSLER will be open for public tours as part of Sail250® Virginia in Norfolk, VA.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, USS WISCONSIN (BB-64)
Sparred Length: 123ft Draft: 12ft Beam: 61ft
USS WISCONSIN is an IOWA class battleship commissioned into the U.S. Navy on April 16, 1944. Built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Pennsylvania, the ship’s main armament consists of three triple 16-inch guns, capable of propelling a 2,700lb shell more than 24 miles.
The USS WISCONSIN served the U.S. Navy in World War II, the Korean War, and in the first Persian Gulf War.
During maneuvers off the coast of Virginia on May 6, 1956, the USS WISCONSIN collided with the destroyer USS EATON. The bow of the USS WISCONSIN was severely damaged. Shipbuilders from Norfolk Naval Shipyard used the bow section of the incomplete battleship USS KENTUCKY to repair the USS WISCONSIN, earning the ship the nickname “WISKY”.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Survey Vessel ADAMS II
Length Overall: 65ft Draft: 3ft Beam: 18ft 9in
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey Vessel ADAMS II was commissioned on July 3, 1997, and built for the USACE’s Norfolk District.
ADAMS II is equipped with a multibeam sonar system which is used for conducting surveys of harbors following dredging operations and natural disaster, locating debris in navigable waterways, and identifying shoaling in deep water channels.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PUSHBOAT HUME
Length Overall: 45ft Draft: 5ft Beam: 15ft
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vessel Hume was commissioned on April, 10th 2025 and was built as USACE's Norfolk District Push Boat. The Hume is a multi-purpose vessel and is used for pushing a 80ft crane barge, sediment sampling, and debris removal within Norfolk Harbor and the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. The vessel is equipped with spuds, a vibracore davit and a hydraulic deck crane.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT VIRGINIA
The pilot boat VIRGINIA is a 52’ aluminum Chesapeake-class pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts for the Virginia Pilot Association. The VIRGINIA was launched in 2003 and supports pilot boarding operations at Cape Henry and on Chesapeake Bay.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT NORFOLK
The pilot boat NORFOLK is a 52’ aluminum Chesapeake-class pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts for the Virginia Pilot Association. The NORFOLK was launched in 2012 and supports pilot boarding operations at Cape Henry and on Chesapeake Bay.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT CAPE CHARLES
The pilot boat CAPE CHARLES is a 40’ aluminum Resilient-class RIB pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts. CAPE CHARLES was launched in 2007 and supports pilot boarding operations at Cape Henry and on Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Pilot Association uses this vessel as a special purpose launch for boarding pilots on submarines, yachts and tugboats.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT HAMPTON ROADS
The pilot boat HAMPTON ROADS is a 56’ aluminum Chesapeake-class pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts for the Virginia Pilot Association. The HAMPTON ROADS was launched in 2018 and was specifically built to utilize the Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system for safe and efficient pilot boarding operations at Cape Henry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT RICHMOND
The pilot boat RICHMOND is a 56’ aluminum Chesapeake-class pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts for the Virginia Pilot Association. The RICHMOND was launched in 2020 and was specifically built to utilize the Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system for safe and efficient pilot boarding operations at Cape Henry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PILOT BOAT OLD DOMINION
The pilot boat OLD DOMINION is a 56’ aluminum Harbor-class pilot launch designed by Ray Hunt Design and built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts for the Virginia Pilot Association. The OLD DOMINION was launched in 2025 and was purposefully designed to support pilot transfer operations in Hampton Roads harbor. This vessel features a large wheelhouse, a galley, dinette, dual bunks, and also utilizes the Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system for efficient maneuvering around the harbor.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, USCG Cutter Maple
Sparred Length: 225ft Draft: 13ft Beam: 46ft
The USCG Cutter MAPLE is a Juniper-class buoy tender homeported in Atlantic Beach, NC. MAPLE assists in servicing more than 200 aids to navigation between New Jersey and the North Carolina/South Carolina boarder. The ship was built by Marinette Marine in Wisconsin and commissioned on October 19, 2001. The ship’s 2,875 square foot buoy deck allows for servicing of NOAA’s 6-meter NOMAD buoys that weigh 25,000 pounds. MAPLE is manned by 7 officers and 46 enlisted personnel. The cutter spent the first 16 years of its service in Alaska before undergoing a midlife refit in Baltimore, MD between 2017-2018.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Victory Rover
Sparred Length: 95ft Draft: 5ft Beam: 21ft
The VICTORY ROVER is a converted oil rig service vessel, re-fitted and updated at Seacraft Shipyard in Louisiana in 2000-2001 and put into service by Rover Cruises at Nauticus in spring 2001 in conjunction with the arrival of the Battleship Wisconsin to the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront. A regular schedule of 2 hour narrated naval base cruises depart March – December and offer the best way to tour the Port of Virginia and Naval Station Norfolk – the world's largest naval base. The captain offers an expert narration about all the impressive sights we see during the tour. VICTORY ROVER is a U.S. Coast Guard Certified and Inspected for up to 149 Passengers.
USS IWO JIMA(LHD-7) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 2001. At the keel laying ceremony, US Army Captain Jacklyn H. Lucas, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions serving as a Marine at the Battle of Iwo Jima, placed his Medal of Honor citation in the hull of the ship, where it remains today.
On 31 August 2005, USSIWO JIMAwas sortied to the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. During this critical period, USS IWO JIMAserved as the region's only fully functional airfield for helicopter operations, conducting over one thousand flight deck operations; provided berthing to thousands of National Guardsmen and relief workers; provided medical services, including first aid and surgical services for disaster victims; and conducted clean-up operations in the city and suburbs of New Orleans.
USS IWO JIMA will be open for public tours at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. You can learn more about those tours by clicking here.
USS San Antonio (LPD-17)
Length Overall: 684ft Draft: 23ft Beam: 105ft
USS SAN ANTONIO is the lead ship of her class of amphibious transport dock or landing platform dock. She is also the largest U.S. Navy vessel to incorporate stealth features, with close attention paid to exterior shaping.
In 2009, USS SAN ANTONIO served as a flagship for Combined Task Force 151, the multinational antipiracy naval force off Somalia. In August 2025, she deployed to the South Caribbean for Operation Southern Spear.
SAN ANTONIO will be open for public tours at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. You can learn more about those tours by clicking here.
USS Bainbridge (DDG-96)
Length Overall: 509ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 59ft
Since her commissioning in 2005, USS BAINBRIDGE has been active in the Mediterranean Sea, but most of the attention she has garnered has been as a result of the failed hijacking attempt of the U.S.-flagged freighter MV Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates in 2009. After crewmen of the captured cargo vessel managed to retake the ship, the pirates retreated, taking the ship's master hostage in a lifeboat. USS BAINBRIDGE, USS HALYBURTON, and USS BOXER shadowed the pirates, and with FBI assistance attempted negotiations for the safe return of the captive captain until U.S. Navy SEAL snipers resolved the situation with deadly force.
USS BAINBRIDGE will be open for public tours at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. You can learn more about those tours by clicking here.
USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
Sparred Length: 609ft Draft: 21ft Beam: 84ft
USS OAK HILL is a dock landing ship - an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles.
USS OAK HILL was commissioned on 8 June 1996 and shortly after commissioning, USS OAK HILL served as command and control ship for the recovery of TWA Flight 800 wreckage.
The crew of the USS OAK HILL will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS Laboon (DDG-58)
Length Overall: 505ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 59ft
USS LABOON is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer. She is named for Father John Francis Laboon (1921-1988), a captain in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, who was awarded the Silver Star during World War Il while serving on the submarine USS PETO.
USS LABOON's keel was laid down on 23 March 1992 at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. She was launched on 20 February 1993. USS LABOON was commissioned on 18 March 1995.
The crew of the USS LABOON will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS New York (LPD-21)
Sparred Length: 684ft Draft: 23ft Beam: 104ft
Shortly after September 11, 2001, Governor Pataki of New York wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy requesting that the Navy bestow the name New York on a surface warship involved in the Global War on Terrorism in honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Although state names were reserved for submarines he asked for special consideration. The request was approved for this San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock in 2002. In 2004 it was announced that two of New York's sister ships would be named Arlington and Somerset in commemoration of the places where two of the other planes used in the attacks came down: Arlington County, Virginia, and Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
The crew of the USS NEW YORK will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS Bataan (LHD-5)
Length Overall: 843ft Draft: 27ft Beam: 104ft
USS BATAAN is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship in the United States Navy. The ship is named after the Battle of Bataan, fought in the Philippines during World War Il. The ship enables the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps teams to seamlessly transition from the sea to a land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Ready Group. She is capable of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as evacuation and humanitarian assistance.
The crew of the USS WASP will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships and will also have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Porter(DDG-78)
Length Overall: 505ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 59ft
USS PORTER is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer. She is named after renowned US Navy officers Commodore David Porter, and his son, Admiral David Dixon Porter. Her keel was laid in 1996, and she was commissioned in 1999.
On 28 October 2007, USS PORTER sank two pirate skiffs off Somalia after receiving a distress call from the tanker MV Golden Nori which was under attack.
The crew of the USS PORTER will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS Wasp (LHD-1)
Length Overall: 846ft Draft: 27ft Beam: 104ft
USS WASP is a United States Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, and the lead ship of her class. USS WASP and her sister ships are the first specifically designed to accommodate new Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) for fast troop movement over the beach, and Harrier II (AV-8B) Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) jets which provide close air support for the assault force.
She can also accommodate the full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, the tiltrotor MV-22 Osprey, the F-35B Lightning I multi-role fighter, conventional landing craft, and amphibious vehicles.
The crew of the USS WASP will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS Carter Hall (LSD-50)
Length Overall: 610ft Draft: 21ft Beam: 84ft
USS CARTER HALL is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ship was launched in 1993 and commissioned in 1995.
The mission of a Landing Ship Dock is to transport and launch amphibious craft, vehicles, crews and embarked personnel in an amphibious assault. An LSD can also render limited docking and repair service to small ships and craft, and act as the Primary Control Ship during amphibious assaults.
The crew of the USS CARTER HALL will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships.
USS Minneapolis – Saint Paul (LCS-21)
Length Overall: 387ft Draft: 13ft Beam: 58ft
USS MNNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. In 2002, the US Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships. These are designed to operate in near-shore environments where deeper draft vessels cannot go.
The Navy commissioned the ship on 21 May 2022 in Duluth, Minnesota under the command of Commander Alfonza White.
The crew of the USS MINNEAPOLIS -SAINT PAUL. will be supporting Sail250 Virginia as a host ship for the visiting tall ships and will also have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Arlington (LPD-24)
Length Overall: 684ft Draft: 23ft Beam: 105ft
USS ARLINGTON is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, and she is the third ship of the US Navy to be named for Arlington County, Virginia, the location of the Pentagon and the crash site of American Airlines Flight 77 during the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.
Like her sister ships, USS NEW YORK and SOMERSET, she is named in commemoration of the victim of the attacks. Steel taken from the Pentagon after the attacks is displayed aboard in the ship's Honor Room.
The crew of the USS ARLINGTON will have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Mahan (DDG-72)
Length Overall: 505ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 59ft
She is named for sea power naval theorist Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan US (1840-1914) and is the fourth Navy ship to bear the name. Admiral Mahan served with the Union's blockading squadrons during the American Civil War and was President of the Naval War College for two terms. He was also a renowned U.S. Naval theoretician and is best known as the author of the book "The Influence of Sea Power upon History", which continues to influence strategic and geopolitical thinking throughout the world.
The keel of the USS MAHAN was laid in 1995. She was launched in 1996. Her home port is Naval Station Norfolk.
The crew of the USS MAHAN will have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98)
Length Overall: 509ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 66ft
USS FORREST SHERMAN is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight (IA) Aegis guided missile destroyer, launched in 2004. The ship has been deployed around the world, including the Mediterranean and Black Seas, a circumnavigation of Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
The ship made international news in 2007, while the ship was visiting Sevastopol to conduct drills with the Ukrainian Navy. A 1,100-pound (500 kg) naval mine from the Second World War was discovered near the vessel. The mine was able to be secured before it could damage the ship.
The crew of the USS FORREST SHERMAN will have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Lassen (DDG-82)
Length Overall: 509ft Draft: 31ft Beam: 56ft
USS LASSEN is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA) Aegis guided missile destroyer, launched in 1999 and commissioned in 2001.
On 27 October 2015, USS LASSEN conducted a 72-nautical mile transit through the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and passed within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, one of seven artificial islands built up by China (commonly called the
"Great Wall of Sand", completing one of the most publicized freedom of navigation operations on record.
The crew of the USS LASSEN will have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USS Gerald R. Ford
Length Overall: 1106ft Draft: 39ft Beam: 134ft
USS GERALD FORD is an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. The ship is named after the 38th president of the United States, Gerald Ford, whose World War Il naval service included combat duty aboard the light aircraft carrier Monterey in the Pacific Theater.
When she was commissioned she was the world's largest aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever constructed. Since 2022 the ship has operated in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and Caribbean Sea.
The crew of the USS GERALD FORD will have a team in the Sail250 Virginia International Soccer Tournament. You can learn more about those games - here.
USCGC Stone
Length Overall: 418ft Draft: 21.5ft Beam: 54ft
USCGC Stone is the ninth Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. her home port is Charleston, South Carolina.
The Legend-class cutters are the second-longest of all U.S. Coast Guard cutters, behind the research icebreaker HEALY. These vessels can be used for a variety of tasks, including environmental protection, search and rescue, fisheries protection, ports, waterways, and coastal security, counterterrorism activities, law enforcement, drug interdiction, defense operations, and other military operations, including assigned naval warfare tasks with the U.S. Navy.
USCGC STONE will be open for public tours at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. You can learn more about those tours by clicking here.
BNS LEOPOLD I is a frigate in the Belgian Navy. Commissioned May 31, 1991, BNS LEOPOLD I originally belonged to the Royal Netherlands Navy under the name HNLMS KAREL DOORMAN, after Admiral Karel Doorman who was killed in the battle of the Java sea (February 27, 1942). It was purchased by the Belgian Navy on 22 December 2005. BNS LEOPOLD I was built by Koninklijke Schelde Groep, Vlissingen. The ship embarked on her first official deployment in September 2007 to east Africa on an international mission against Somali pirates, and later, in 2015, was deployed to aid in fighting against ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant)
UNIÃO is a frigate in the Brazilian Navy. She was the sixth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy. She was commissioned on September 12, 1980. Her home port is in Rio de Janeiro. UNIÃO was built by Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro. In June-August 2022, she performed operation “Guinex II” patrolling around the Gulf of Guinea and visiting numerous West African Countries. And in 2023, along with her sister ship INDEPENDÊNCIA and the submarine TIKUNA, participated in joint exercises together.
HMCS ST.JOHN’S is a Halifax-class frigate, the eleventh out of twelve of her class. She was commissioned in 1996 and is named after the city of St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador a port city. St. John’s is heavily associated with Canadian naval history and heritage. The vessel was built by Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John. In 2004, HMCS ST. JOHN’S provided aid to the submarine HMCS CHICOUTIMI, after it was fired upon off the coast of Ireland and even sent over a hot Thanksgiving meal to the crew of HMCS CHICOUTIMI as the event overlapped with Canadian Thanksgiving. In 2005, HMCS ST. JOHN’S was sent to Louisiana to provide aid in light of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
HDMS IVER HUITFELDT is a frigate in the Royal Danish Navy. The vessel is named after Iver Huitfeldt, a Danish officer from the 17th century. She was commissioned January 21, 2011. HDMS IVER HUITFELDT was built by Odense Steel Shipyard, Odense. From 2019-2022, HDMS IVER HUITFELDT took part in anti-piracy operations and global deployments and in early 2024, deployed to assist in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational effort to combat Houthi attacks involving drones, missiles and other threats on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, led by the US.
FS DIXMUIDE
Country: France
Length Overall: 653ft Draft: 21ft Beam: 105ft
FS DIXMUIDE is a French amphibious assault vessel. The third vessel to bear the name and the third of her class, FS DIXMUIDE was built by Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire. FS DIXMUIDE was commissioned on December 27, 2012. In April 2020, she as deployed with British, French and Danish vessels as a response to the COVID19 pandemic and in November 2023, she was deployed to Egypt to act as a floating hospital, providing relief to Gaza in the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. Because of it’s helicopter pad, it allows for aeromedevac. And in October 2024, FS DIXMUIDE was deployed to the Lebanon coast to help evacuate western citizens from the Isralei bombardment and Lebanon invasion in relation to the Gaza war.
FS ACONIT, a general purpose stealth frigate in the French Navy was one of the four vessels to be named after the French Corvette ACONIT. She was commissioned on June 6th 1999. The frigate was reported active in 2021 in the Mediterranean, working on operations with the Italian Navy. In September 2022, she was deployed to the Indian Ocean participating in joint exercises with the Egyptian Navy. And between November and December, the frigate was engaged in joint “Pearl of the West” exercises. She returned to her base in Toulon on December 22, 2022.
FGS SACHSEN, the lead ship of her class, is a frigate in the German. She was built by Blohm+Voss, Hamburg. FGS SACHSEN was commissioned on November 4th, 2004. FGS SACHSEN participated in training operations with the USS ENTERPRISE in 2004, while serving in Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. In July 2012, she deployed to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia and was a part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 from August 2013 to December 13. In 2026, she will sail again with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 as the lead ship.
Formally known as the USS NEWPORT, the ARM RIO PAPALOAPAN or just ARM PAPALOAPAN for short is an amphibious ship that was sold from the US to Mexico on January 18th, 2001. She was commissioned into the Mexican Navy on May 23 2001. She was built by Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in the Mexican Navy, ARM PAPALOAPAN was sent on humanitarian missions in light of hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Her crew assisted in clean up efforts after the hurricanes. In 2010, she was deployed to Haiti on a humanitarian mission with 5,000 tons of cargo to aid them. And again, in 2012, she was sent to Cuba with humanitarian supplies to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, after the Hurricane severely damaged the island.
RMNS MOHAMMED IV, a multipurpose frigate from Morocco is named after Mohammed IV of Morocco and was commissioned on January 30th, 2014. She was built by DCNS, Lorient. In 2018, she participated in Exercise Lightning Handshake off the coast of Morocco with USS HARRY S TRUMAN. In August 2025, the vessel participated in a passage exercise with Indian vessel INS Tamal.
HNLMS VAN AMSTEL is a Karel Doorman-class multipurpose frigate. Built by Koninklijke Schelde Groep, Vlissingen, she is named after the Dutch captain Jan van Amstel and belongs to the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was commissioned on May 27th 1993. On May 11th, 2012, the VAN AMSTEL freed 17 Iranian fishermen who were being held hostage by 11 suspected Somali pirates aboard a fishing dhow. In 2015, VAN AMSTEL joined Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and rescued migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. And in 2017, VAN AMSTEL seized almost 700 kilograms of cocaine in 2 drug busts in the waters between Curaçao and Columbia.
HNLMS DEN HELDER is a recent replenishment oiler belonging to the Royal Netherlands Navy. She is meant to replace the HNLMS AMSTERDAM that was sold to Peru in 2014. She was built from 2020-2025 and commissioned on October 1, 2025. HNLMS DEN HELDER was built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Damen Shipyards Galați. Her home port is Den Helder. She is the first vessel to be named after the city Den Helder, home to the Netherlands main naval base.
HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN is a frigate belonging to the Royal Norwegian Navy and the lead ship of her class. She was built by Navantia, Ferrol, Spain. FRIDTJOF NANSEN joined the EUs campaign against piracy in Somalia in August 2009. In November 2009, she was attacked while inspecting a fishing vessel by suspected pirates, engaging in a fire fight. HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN came to Naval Station Norfolk to participate in training, certification, and testing before deploying with the USS TRUMAN in December 2021.
BAP TACNA
Country: Peru
Length Overall: 544ft 1in Draft: 26 ft 3in Beam: 77ft 9in
Formally known as the HNLMS Amsterdam, BAP TACNA was the last oiler in the Royal Netherlands Navy before being sold to Peru and being renamed BAP TACNA. In early 1996, the ship sailed to the Arctic to practice operations in cold climates. She participated in countless NATO operations in the late 90s and early 2000s. IN 2005/2006 BAP TACNA deployed to assist with Operation Enduring Freedom and provided aid to two US vessels after a battle they had with pirates. In July 2014, BAP TACNA was sold to Peru and was transferred to the Peruvian Navy in December 2014.
NIANI is an Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Senegalese Navy. She was commissioned on November 14, 2023. She was named after the ancient city of Niani, which served as the legendary capital of Mali, a historical empire. NIANI is the second of three WALO class offshore patrol vessels. NIANI was built by french shipyard Piriou in Concarneau, France.
ESPS JUAN CARLOS I is an aircraft carrier in the Spanish Navy. She was named after Juan Carlos I, the former King of Spain. ESPS JUAN CARLOS I was built by Navantia. Shortly after her commissioning on September 30, 2010, she was deployed to provide critical disaster relief to Haiti after a disastrous earthquake. She takes part in anti-piracy patrols and has regularly been deployed in NATO drills such as Formidable Shield in Norway.
ESPS CASTILLA is an amphibious ship or LPD in the Spanish Navy. Her sister ship is the amphibious assault vessel GALICIA. Commissioned on June 26, 2000, ESPS CASTILLA is mainly used for transporting Spanish marines but has participated in military and humanitarian operations. She helped in a cleanup after an oil spill occured, a result of the wreck of tanker PRESTIGE . She also visited Louisiana to aid in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Most recently, ESPS CASTILLA became the flagship for the EU’s Operation Atlanta, an anti-piracy operation, in 2021. She was the flagship for 4 months.
ESPS BLAS DE LEZO is a guided missile frigate in the Spanish Navy. She is of the Álvaro de Bazán class. She was named after Spanish Admiral Blas de Lezo. ESPS BLAS DE LEZO was built by Izar Shipbuilding in Ferrol, Spain and was commissioned on December 16, 2004. In 2009, she participated in NATOS allied protector operation against piracy in the waters around the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa. In June and July of 2025, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, finished her naval training aboard the ship.
ESPS REINA SOFIA is a frigate in the Spanish Navy. She is the fourth ship of the Santa Maria class. Named after Queen Sofia of Spain, the vessel was commissioned on July 19, 1989. She was built by Bazan. In 2016, ESPS REINA SOFIA participated in a migrant rescue in the Mediterranean sea. She then participated in training operations, working alongside the Egyptian Navy. In 2023, she was deployed to evacuate civilians from the escalating violence in Sudan. In 2025, ESPS REINA SOFIA visited Mumbai, then executing a training exercise with the Indian Navy.
ESPS PATIÑO is a replenishment oiler in the Spanish Navy. The vessel was commissioned on June 16th, 1995. ESPS PATIÑO has sailed as a part of both Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. In 2002. ESPS PATIÑO participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2010 to 2015, ESPS PATIÑO served as the NAVFOR Flagship during Operation Atlanta, helping to protect ships from pirates off the coast of Somalia. On January 12, 2012, ESPS PATIÑO was attacked by Somali pirates under the assumption that they were solely a commercial vessel. She was on her way to provide food aid to Somalia.
TCG ORUCREIS is a Barbaros class frigate, the second ship of her class. The vessel was built by Gölcük Naval Shipyard. In 2014, TCG ORUCREIS participated in a major African deployment to combat piracy and provide ship-board safety training to the Nigerian Navy and Coast Guard. In 2025, she deployed to the Mediterranean to conduct port-based and at sea training programs for cadets from the Libyan Naval Academy.
Tugboats
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Connie Anne
Length Overall: 75.9ft Draft: 7.9ft Beam: 27ft
W.F. Magann Corporation’s flagship, the CONNIE ANNE, serves the Hampton Roads area in the marine construction industry. The vessel has the power and equipment to excel in its many roles, including construction support, dredging assistance, and material transportation. Originally built in 1978, she has remained a hard-working and durable tug through decades of service, continuing to support the region’s maritime industry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Virginia
Length Overall: 50.3ft Draft: 20.4ft Beam: 7.3ft
Named for the Commonwealth it serves, W.F. Magann Corporation’s tugboat VIRGINIA is a dependable workhorse in Hampton Roads. The vessel contributes to a wide range of marine construction activities, from towing to dredging support. Its strength and versatility reflect the resilience of the region’s maritime industry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Mary Hope II
Length Overall: 56.5ft Draft: 7.3ft Beam: 20ft
The MARY HOPE II, built in 1973 and operated by W.F. Magann Corporation, supports a wide range of marine construction activities in Hampton Roads. Known for its reliability, the tug assists with dredging projects, construction work, and material transport across the harbor. It stands as a testament to longevity and commitment in the marine industry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Miss Anne
Length Overall: 59.2ft Draft: 9ft Beam: 22.1ft
W.F. Magann Corporation’s MISS ANNE, built in 1978, is a trusted and familiar presence in the Hampton Roads waterways. Built for durability, the vessel lends its strength to towing operations and construction support. Its steady performance and adaptability make it an essential contributor to local marine work.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Eastern Branch
Length Overall: 64ft Draft: 7.7ft Beam: 25.2ft
Crofton Industries’ tug EASTERN BRANCH, built in 1971, is a steady presence in the Hampton Roads waterways, supporting marine construction and daily harbor operations. Known for its versatility, the vessel handles everything from dredging assistance to transporting materials for waterfront projects. Whether working behind the scenes or at the center of a job, Eastern Branch represents the dependable, hard-working spirit of the local maritime industry
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Huntsman
Length Overall: 74.5ft Draft: 8.5ft Beam: 30ft
The tug HUNTSMAN, built in 1975 and operated by Crofton Industries, is built for demanding work and lives up to its name by tackling challenging jobs across Hampton Roads. From assisting dredging crews to supporting construction efforts, the vessel brings strength and reliability to every project. Its consistent performance makes it a trusted asset wherever heavy work is required
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Pinners Point
Length Overall: 55.4ft Draft: 8.3ft Beam: 22ft
Crofton Industries’ PINNERS POINT, built in 1979, carries the name of a historic local shoreline and reflects that same connection to the region’s working waterfront. The vessel plays a key role in construction support, dredging operations, and barge handling throughout Hampton Roads. Reliable and capable, Pinners Point helps keep critical marine projects moving forward
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Bunny C
Length Overall: 50.2ft Draft: 7ft Beam: 22ft
Crofton Industries’ BUNNY C, built in 1977, supporting construction and towing operations throughout Hampton Roads, the vessel plays a key role in keeping projects on schedule. Its reliability makes it a dependable member of the fleet.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Teddi C
Length Overall: 25.6ft Draft: 7ft Beam: 14ft
Crofton Industries’ TEDDI C, built in 2008, brings a combination of strength and agility to the region’s marine operations. The tug supports a variety of tasks, including construction assistance and material transport. Known for getting the job done efficiently, Teddi C is a valuable asset in local waterways
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Lady Camille
Length Overall: 25.6ft Draft: 14ft Beam: 8ft
The LADY CAMILLE, built in 2002 and part of the Crofton Industries fleet, combines dependable performance with a name that stands out on the water. Serving the Hampton Roads area, the vessel contributes to towing operations and construction support. Its versatility allows it to adapt to a wide range of marine jobs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Miss Jennifer
Length Overall: 50ft Draft: 6ft Beam: 18ft
The MISS JENNIFER, built in 1978 by Ortis Shipbuilding in Krotz Springs, Louisiana, is a 50‑foot conventional twin‑screw towing vessel powered by two Cummins Big Cam 855 engines (800 total horsepower). Owned and operated by three generations at Hodges & Hodges Enterprises, she serves the Hampton Roads region and its inland waterways. The MISS JENNIFER plays a vital role in supporting marina construction and renovation, as well as assisting in the recovery of sunken vessels throughout the area.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Candice L
Length Overall: 53.9ft Draft: 8ft Beam: 22ft
The CANDICE L, operated by Robbins Maritime, is a nimble and dependable tug serving the Hampton Roads area. With a reputation for reliability, the vessel supports a variety of marine construction and towing operations. Whether assisting on a job site or moving materials, Candice L brings steady performance day in and day out.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Typhoon
Length Overall: 25.5ft Draft: 6ft Beam: 13ft
Robbins Maritime’s TYPHOON, built in 2012, lives up to its powerful name, delivering strength and performance in demanding marine environments. The tug supports construction, towing, and material transport across Hampton Roads. With its capability and presence, TYPHOON helps tackle some of the toughest jobs on the waterfront
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Thunder
Length Overall: 25.9ft Draft: 5ft Beam: 14ft
The THUNDER, operated by Robbins Maritime, brings power and reliability to every job it undertakes in Hampton Roads. Supporting heavy towing, construction, and barge work, the vessel is a key player in keeping projects moving efficiently across the region’s waterways.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Lightning
Length Overall: 25.5ft Draft: 5ft Beam: 14ft
Robbins Maritime’s LIGHTNING is known for its versatility and responsiveness in the fast-paced harbor environment. Supporting construction projects and towing operations, the vessel keeps work moving efficiently on the water. Its name reflects the speed and precision it brings to each task.
Intracoastal Marine’s Little Mary is a compact but capable tug serving the Hampton Roads region in marine construction and support operations. Despite its smaller size, the vessel is outfitted with flanking rudders typically found on much larger tugs, giving it exceptional maneuverability and control in tight working conditions. Named after the wife of a previous company owner, Little Mary carries a personal legacy while playing an important role in material movement and job site support.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat MR JULIO
Length Overall: 25.8ft Draft: 4.5ft Beam: 13.6ft
The Mr. Julio, operated by Intracoastal Marine, is a dependable tug that contributes to a wide range of marine construction and towing operations throughout Hampton Roads. The tug is named in honor of one of the company’s longest-tenured employees, who dedicated over 20 years of service, reflecting the strong sense of loyalty and tradition within the fleet. With its consistent performance and meaningful namesake, Mr. Julio stands as both a hardworking asset and a tribute to the people behind the maritime industry.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat Storm
Length Overall: 25.5ft Draft: 5ft Beam: 12ft
The STORM, part of the Robbins Maritime fleet, is a resilient and capable tug built for demanding conditions in Hampton Roads. From towing to construction support, it plays an important role across a wide range of projects. Like its name suggests, STORM is always ready to meet challenges head-on.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tugboat RoseMary McAllister
Length Overall: 104ft Draft: 18ft Beam: 40ft
The ROSEMARY MCALLISTER was launched from Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, FL in 2018 and sails for McAllister Towing. The tug is named after the mother of McAllister Towing's CEO. The vessel is power by two Schottel Z-drives, allowing it to essentially spin 360 degrees in its own length and work in tight spaces while docking ships. ROSEMARY MCALLISTER serves as part of the Marine Incident Response Team (MIRT) in Hampton Roads.
The Port of Virginia’s Maritime Incident Response Team (MIRT) is a highly specialized task force representing over 20 municipalities and agencies across Hampton Roads, with more than 200 active members. Representing federal, state, and local law enforcement; fire services; and EMS, the Maritime Incident Response Team delivers rapid, on-scene maritime expertise during all-hazard maritime incidents. Advanced training with realistic drills ensures the MIRT team is prepared to coordinate effectively with the U.S. Coast Guard when a real emergency develops, helping to protect lives, infostructure, and maritime operations. The Maritime Incident Response Team has been instrumental in planning and support for Sail250® Virginia and the Sail Virginia 2026 Affiliate Harbor events taking place across Virginia. More than 30 agencies have supported the event. We would like to extend our sincere thank to each of these organizations.
