A curated list of notable tugboats chartered by SpaceX for offshore towing of spaceport droneships. SpaceX does not own a tugboat and charterers them from vessel providers. Because of this, tugboats in operation with SpaceX can change frequently.
Active SpaceX Tugs
Crosby Skipper
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX since late 2022 for East Coast operations. Skipper has a twin tug named Kurt J Crosby which was also briefly used by SpaceX in 2022. Photo: Jenny Hautmann
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 2000
IMO: 9231353
Length: 40.5m
Width: 14.6m
Horsepower: 16,500
Joined SpaceX Fleet: 2022
Scorpius
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX since late 2021 for West Coast operations. Scorpius is owned/operated by Curtin Maritime, who provide barges, tugs and other transportation services to SpaceX in California. Photo: Curtin Maritime
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 1966 (Rebuilt 1993)
IMO: 7210783
Length: 38m
Width: 9.6m
Horsepower: 3900
Joined SpaceX Fleet: 2021
Former SpaceX Tugs
Finn Falgout
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX from 2020 - 2022 for East Coast operations. Finn Falgout towed ASOG droneship from its construction shipyard in Louisiana to its new homeport in Florida. Photo: Julia Bergeron
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 1975 (Rebuilt 2014)
IMO: 7390765
Length: 43m
Width: 12.2m
Horsepower: 15,000
Joined SpaceX Fleet: April 2020
Retired SpaceX Fleet: June 2022
Hawk
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX on and off from 2017 to 2021 for East Coast operations. Photo: Julia Bergeron