Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Maryland, recently handed over the final vessel in a series of four square-bow pusher tugs ordered by Vane Brothers based in nearby Baltimore.
The tug, the 20th such vessel to be built in Maryland for the Vane Brothers fleet, is named Charles Hughes after the late former chairman of the board of the company. This is also the second Vane Brothers vessel to be so named, the first one being a 1975-built pusher tug that was operated by the company between 1991 and 2019.
The newer Charles Hughes is a steel-hulled vessel boasting a length of 94 feet (28.6 metres), a beam of 34 feet (10.3 metres), a hull depth of 10 feet (three metres), a draught of 8.5 feet (2.5 metres), and a gross tonnage of 199. Chesapeake Shipbuilding also provided the design work, which was done in compliance with US Coast Guard Subchapter M safety regulations and in cooperation with owner Vane Brothers to ensure high levels of safety, comfort, and productivity as well as suitability for operation in shallow-draught inland waterways.
A pair of Caterpillar 3512 US EPA Tier IV-compliant main engines that each produce 1,500 hp (1,118 kW) at 1,800 rpm drive Hung Shen five-bladed, stainless steel fixed-pitch propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5600 gears. This arrangement enables the tug to reach a free running speed of 10.5 knots.
The wheelhouse is fitted with electronic charting systems from Rose Point while the remainder of the navigation and communication electronics are from Simrad and Furuno. The wheelhouse also has an eye-level height of 35 feet (10.6 metres) to ensure improved forward visibility for the crew even as the tug is pushing barges.
The other equipment includes two Patterson 65-ton (58-tonne) winches, Fernstrum box coolers, and JonRie Intertech capstans fitted on the bow and stern.
Accommodations are available for seven crewmembers. The interiors also have eight independently operating heating and AC systems. In addition to ensuring improved comfort for the crew, this arrangement also improves the fire containment capability of the interior spaces.
| Charles Hughes | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Pusher tug |
| Classification: | US Coast Guard Subchapter M |
| Flag: | USA |
| Owner: | Vane Brothers, USA |
| Designer: | Chesapeake Shipbuilding, USA |
| Builder: | Chesapeake Shipbuilding, USA |
| Hull construction material: | Steel |
| Length overall: | 94 feet (28.6 metres) |
| Beam: | 34 feet (10.3 metres) |
| Draught: | 8.5 feet (2.5 metres) |
| Depth: | 10 feet (3.0 metres) |
| Gross tonnage: | 199 |
| Main engines: | 2 x Caterpillar 3512, each 1,500 hp (1,118 kW) at 1,800 rpm |
| Gearboxes: | 2 x Twin Disc MGX-5600 |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Hung Shen fixed-pitch propellers |
| Maximum speed: | 10.5 knots |
| Plotters: | Rose Point |
| Other electronics: | Simrad; Furuno |
| Winches: | 2 x Patterson Manufacturing |
| Capstans: | JonRie Intertech |
| Other equipment installed: | Fernstrum box coolers; HVAC |
| Crew: | 7 |
