SpaceX Tugboats
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
Signet Warhorse III
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX since December 2023 for East Coast operations. The tug was previously used for a single launch operation back in February 2019.
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 2001
IMO: 8967577
Length: 44m / 144 ft
Breadth: 15.2m / 50 ft
Horsepower: 12,500
Joined SpaceX Fleet: Dec 2023
Debra C
Tugboat chartered by SpaceX since 2024 for West Coast operations. Debra C is owned/operated by Curtin Maritime, who provide barges, tugs and other transportation services to SpaceX in California. Photo: Curtin Maritime
Vital Statistics
Joined SpaceX Fleet: 2024
Former SpaceX Tugs
This is a curated list and is not definitive. SpaceX has used a large number of tugboats in 10+ years of offshore operations.
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 and 2023. Photo: Jenny Hautmann
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 2000
IMO: 9231353
Length: 40.5m / 133 ft
Breadth: 14.6m / 48 ft
Horsepower: 16,500
Joined SpaceX Fleet: 2022
Retired SpaceX Fleet: 2023
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 / 141 ft
Breadth: 12.2m / 40 ft
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
Vital Statistics
Year Built: 1995
IMO: 1033239
Length: 33.5m / 110ft
Breadth: 12.2m / 40 ft
Horsepower: 6700
Joined SpaceX Fleet: 2017
Retired SpaceX Fleet: 2021