Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. has signed another new agreement with Vane Brothers of Baltimore to design and build four new Sub-Chapter, M-Compliant, Push Tugs, yet to be named.

This new order will bring the total number of tugs to 20 that have been built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding for Vane Brothers since 2007.

Design and construction on the new tugs will begin immediately in Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s hull fabrication buildings. The four new vessels will be sisterships.

The new 3,000-horsepower tugs will be equipped with twin Caterpillar 3512 main engines, conventional shafts, rudders and flanking rudders.

They will accommodate up to seven crew members and will have large, modern private and semi-private quarters.

The Chesapeake designed tugs will be 94-feet-long, with a 34-foot molded beam and a 10-foot, 6-inch molded depth.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding designs and builds steel commercial vessels between 100 and 400 feet. The yard has upgraded its production capacity significantly in recent years, by acquiring additional land, building two new hull fabrication buildings and investing in additional automated equipment.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding is the leading designer and builder of commercial ships in the United States with over 40 years of experience and specialization in the design and construction of passenger vessels, tugboats, ferry boats, etc.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s construction yard is located on 15 acres, with more than 2,400 feet of deepwater bulkhead, along the Wicomico River. The Shipyard has two outfitting basins, 3 level construction/side launch systems, plus a ground transfer system and various hull fabrication buildings and shops.