Vane Brothers takes delivery of new tug for N.Y. fleet

Fort

The following is the text of a news release from Vane Brothers Co:

(BALTIMORE) — Vane Brothers Co., a premier marine transportation provider headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has taken delivery of Fort Schuyler, the latest Maryland-built tugboat to join Vane’s fleet.

Fort Schuyler is the 11th Sassafras-class tugboat contracted by Vane Brothers through Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Md. Fort Schuyler’s sister tug, Kings Point, was delivered in April 2015.

According to Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes, “Working alongside another Maryland-based company to deliver safer and more productive working vessels such as the Fort Schuyler has been a great experience for Vane. Chesapeake Shipbuilding is helping us to further our mission of providing the highest quality service to our customers.”

Measuring 94 feet long and 32 feet wide with a hull depth of 13 feet, Fort Schuyler is similar in most respects to the previous 10 efficient, safe and comfortable tugboats built for Vane as part of the Chesapeake Shipbuilding contract. The vessel is equipped with twin Caterpillar 3512 Tier 3 main engines producing a combined 3,000 horsepower, and operates with a single-drum hydraulic towing winch. "Soft-core" panels and heavy, fire-rated doors are used throughout, offering the crew a safer and quieter living environment.

A first for Vane Brothers: Fort Schuyler’s state-of-the-art wheelhouse features multi-functional Simrad marine electronics that utilize intuitive interfaces for heightened performance.

Fort Schuyler, like Kings Point, has joined Vane Brothers’ fleet based in New York. The names of both vessels pay homage to a pair of highly respected mid-Atlantic maritime education facilities. The State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College has a Marine Transportation Department based at Fort Schuyler, while the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is located in Kings Point, N.Y.

Since 1898, Vane Brothers has served the maritime industry in the Port of Baltimore and along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The company provides a wide range of maritime services such as bunkering, launch services and safety equipment inspection from seven locations: New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville. Currently operating nearly 150 tugboats and barges, Vane Brothers has worked to set the standard of excellence in the maritime industry with state-of-the art equipment, seasoned crews and a commitment to safety. For more information, visit www.vanebrothers.com.

By Professional Mariner Staff