Chesapeake Shipbuilding Launches Tug Sassafras

Salisbury, MD – Chesapeake Shipbuilding launched the tug Sassafras this weekend, the first of four Vane Brothers 94-foot, 3,000hp tugs the shipyard is building. The launch was a side launch that was called “perfect”. Vane Brothers of Baltimore, MD recently exercised options to build 2 more tugs at the Salisbury, MD shipyard. Two Caterpillar 3512 engines will power the tugs with 6:1 reverse reduction gears to conventional twin shafts. These new tugs have upper and lower pilot houses. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has been in Salisbury, MD for 27 years and has built dozens of commercial vessels between 80 and 250 feet at the facility during that time. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has designed and built small luxury cruise ships, tugs, car ferries, restaurant vessels, and larger passenger vessels. Chesapeake Shipbuilding is located on 13 acres with over 2,000 feet of deepwater bulkhead, including 2 outfitting basins 275 feet by 66 feet and the other 210 feet by 56 feet. The yard side launches into the Wicomico River from 3 launch ways. The American Star, a 220-foot, 104-passenger cruise ship designed and built by the shipyard, was recently awarded as a “Great Ship for 2007” by Maritime Reporter and Engineering News. Chesapeake Shipbuilding, in addition to the tugs, currently has under construction a 223-foot luxury overnight cruise ship to be delivered in 2009. The new cruise ships are all designed with advanced technologies including advanced environmental, propulsion and electronic systems. The shipyard also has a new vehicle ferry under construction for the State of Delaware. For more information contact Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp., at 1-800-748-2979, http://www.chesapeakeshipbuilding.com Contact: Tim Beebe 800-748-2979