Duff Hughes News

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

Baltimore-based Vane Brothers announced that its entire tugboat fleet has earned a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI) as part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Subchapter M program.Subchapter M refers to federally regulated safety standards for inspected towing vessels. All applicable vessels are required to earn a valid COI by July.Vane Brothers president, C. Duff Hughes, said, “Vane Brothers appreciates the importance of safety to the company, our crews, and our customers. Our goal is zero spills and zero incidents…

Baltimore-based Vane Brothers announced it has take delivery this month of the final boat in a series of four 3,000-horsepower Salisbury Class push tugs. Named the Charles Hughes, Vane’s newest addition is the 20th Maryland-built towing vessel to join Vane Brothers’ fleet since 2008.Designed and constructed by Chesapeake Shipbuilding Shipbuilders and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Md., Vane’s Salisbury Class push tugs have a molded depth of only 10.5 feet, making them well suited for working in confined, shallow-draft waterways.

Jones Act marine transportation provider Vane Brothers announced it has taken delivery this month of the third in a series of four 3,000-horsepower push tugs. Named the Rock Hall, Vane’s newest addition is the nineteenth Maryland-built towing vessel to join the Baltimore-based company’s fleet since 2008.Chesapeake Shipbuilding and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Maryland has delivered 16 3,000-horsepower, model bow tugs and three 3,000-horsepower square-bow push boats. Two of the Rock Hall’s sister tugs, the Salisbury and the Annapolis, were delivered in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Vane Brothers said it has taken delivery of its new 3,000-horsepower model bow tug Cape Henry from Chesapeake Shipbuilding.Cape Henry is a true sister tug of the Cape Fear, which was delivered to Van Brothers in October 2020. Both model bow tugs are primarily tasked with towing petroleum barges engaged in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coastwise trade.Featuring a design by the late Frank Basile, P.E., of Entech Designs, LLC, the Cape Henry measures 94 feet long and 32 feet wide with a hull depth of 13 feet.

Vane Brothers said it has taken delivery of the 3,000-horsepower Cape Fear, the 17th Maryland-built tugboat to join the Baltimore-based marine transportation provider’s fleet.Since 2008, 15 3,000-horsepower, model-bow tugboats have been delivered to Vane Brothers by Chesapeake Shipbuilding and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Md. Chesapeake has also constructed two 3,000-horsepower push boats for Vane.“The 3,000-horsepower tug is powerful, practical and a perfect fit for Vane’s harbor and coastwise towing operations,” says Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes.

Vane Brothers said it has taken delivery of the second of four 3,000-horsepower push tugs being built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding Shipbuilders and Naval Architects in Salisbury, Md.The newbuild, Annapolis, has a design that is identical to the tug Salisbury, delivered in 2019. With a length of 94 feet, width of 34 feet, molded depth of 10.5 feet, and working draft of 8.5 feet, each vessel in the Subchapter M-compliant Salisbury Class of push tugs is especially well-suited for operations along inland waterways.Vane Brothers President C.

Diverse and conveniently located, St. Johns Ship Building has quickly developed into a reliable partner for its many repeat customers. Today, and as a direct result, a lot more people know exactly where Palatka, Florida is located.On the St Johns River, just 60 miles south of Jacksonville, lies the sleepy town of Palatka, Florida. Founded as a trading post in 1821, its location on the highly navigable river made the area attractive to orange growers and timber men alike.In its heyday between 1875 and 1900…

Vane Brothers Company is committed to the safe handling and delivery of petroleum and chemical products. John Deere PowerTech marine engines will always be there, when they do.Vane Brothers Company’s white tugboats, distinguished by their large blue “V,” are a familiar sight while pushing barges on the Baltimore waterfront. Founded in 1898 as a quaint ships’ chandlery, Vane Brothers has become a large American marine services firm and a major transporter of oil, asphalt, and other liquid products along the Eastern Seaboard.The company teams 45 robust…

The Vane Brothers Company (Baltimore, MD) introduced VANE LAUNCH, a new division that builds on the company’s existing launch service offerings, a division designed to be synergistic with Vane Brothers’ bunkering operations. “Though launch services have long been a part of the Vane Brothers catalogue, the emergence of VANE LAUNCH signals a new era of expansion and increased commitment to this important business segment,” said C. Duff Hughes, President, Vane Brothers. The Vane Brothers Company…

Marine transportation provider Vane Brothers has added two newly constructed vessels to the company’s growing fleet: the 4,200-horsepower tugboat Philadelphia and the purpose-built asphalt barge Double Skin 510A. Primarily tasked with towing petroleum barges engaged in the North Atlantic coastwise trade, the Philadelphia is the fifth of eight 4,200-horsepower, model bow tugboats contracted by Vane Brothers through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. The first in the series…

Marine transportation provider Vane Brothers has taken delivery of the newly built tugboat Delaware, the fourth of eight vessels in Vane’s Elizabeth Anne Class of 4,200-horsepower tugs contracted through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. Designed by Frank Basile, P.E., of Entech Designs, LLC, the Delaware is a steel-hulled, model bow tug measuring 100 feet long with a 34-foot beam and 13-foot draught. She utilizes two Caterpillar 3516 Tier 3 (“A” Rated) engines, each generating 2,100 horsepower at 1,600 rpm.

Vane Brothers said it has taken delivery of its newest tugboat, Baltimore, named for the city in which the marine transportation provider is headquartered. The Baltimore is the third of eight vessels in Vane’s Elizabeth Anne Class of 4,200-horsepower tugboats contracted through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. The fourth in the series, the Delaware, is scheduled for completion this fall. Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes said, “Our partnership with St. The Baltimore is the 30th vessel completed for Vane Brothers under the supervision of Senior Port Captain Jim Demske…

Vane Brothers, a marine transportation provider headquartered in Baltimore, has added two vessels to its fleet: the 4,200-horsepower tugboat Hudson and 55,000‐barrel barge Double Skin 601. The Hudson is the second of eight vessels in Vane’s Elizabeth Anne Class of 4,200‐horsepower tugboats contracted through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. The Elizabeth Anne was delivered in January, while the third in the series, the Baltimore, is scheduled for completion this summer.

The 23rd Annual International Maritime Hall of Fame reception and awards dinner took place yesterday evening in New York where five individuals were honored in front of more than 350 of their colleagues from the international maritime transportation industry. The Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey founded the Annual International Maritime Hall of Fame in 1993 to recognize maritime visionaries who, through excellence in their company, organization or services, best exemplify the qualities of futuristic thinking that guides the maritime industry.

The Vane Brothers Company, a marine transportation provider headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has taken delivery of the Elizabeth Anne, the first in a new series of 4,200-horsepower tugboats. Vane Brothers has ordered a total of eight Elizabeth Anne Class towing vessels through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla., with the second in the series, the Hudson, scheduled for delivery this spring. According to Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes, “The 4,200-horsepower Elizabeth Anne Class tugboat is the ultimate workhorse, bringing exceptional power and performance to Vane’s growing fleet.

Baltimore-headquartered marine transportation provider The Vane Brothers Company has taken delivery of the Fort Schuyler, the latest Maryland-built tugboat to join the company’s fleet. Fort Schuyler is the 11th Sassafras Class tugboat contracted by Vane Brothers through Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Md. The Fort Schuyler’s sister tug, the Kings Point, was delivered in April 2015. According to Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes, “Working alongside another Maryland-based…

The Vane Brothers Company, a marine transportation provider headquartered in Baltimore, has taken delivery of Kings Point, the latest in a wave of Maryland-built tugboats. Constructed under the supervision of Vane Senior Port Captain Jim Demske, Kings Point is the 10th of 14 “Sassafras Class” tugboats contracted by Vane Brothers through Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Maryland. Kings Point also has a sister tug, Fort Schuyler, that was launched by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in April and is expected to be delivered this summer.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp of Salisbury, MD announced today that it signed another new contract on December 29, 2011 with Vane Brothers of Baltimore, MD to build an 8th ocean going tug. This is the second new tug that Vane has ordered from Chesapeake in the month of December. Chesapeake Shipbuilding now has three tugs under construction for Vane Brothers and a 260’ luxury cruise ship for American Cruise Lines of Guilford, CT. Speaking on the relationship with Chesapeake Shipbuilding…