Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp of Salisbury, MD announced today that it has signed a contract with Vane Brothers of Baltimore, MD to build another new ocean going tug. The new contract represents the 7th tug that Chesapeake Shipbuilding will have built for Vane Brothers in just over five years. Construction has already begun.
The new tugboat, designated Hull 105, will be nearly identical to the previous six tugboats built for Vane Brothers. It will be equipped with twin Caterpillar 3512 main engines producing a combined 3,000 horsepower, and a single drum hydraulic winch from JonRie of New Jersey. Similar to the previous tugs, the new boat will have comfortable accommodations for seven crew members. The tug will measure 94’ long with a 32’ beam, and a 13’ depth.
Each Chesapeake Shipbuilding tug is built in a controlled indoor environment, before being moved and launched into Maryland’s Wicomico River. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has recently made significant upgrades to its facility to increase its production capacity and efficiency.
Chesapeake Shipbuilding designs and builds steel commercial and industrial vessels between 90 and 300 feet. The yard has upgraded its production capacity significantly in recent years, by building three new hull fabrication buildings and investing in automated equipment.