Second of six tugs delivered

"Elk River" will join "Sassafras", the 1st tug that Chesapeake built for Vane Brothers, in hauling tank barges on near coastal routes. Construction is already well underway on the remaining four tugs, each of which will be delivered over the next year and a half.

Twin Caterpillar 3512 main engines produce appr. 2237 kW through 6:1 reverse reduction gears to conventional shafts. It is equipped with a single drum hydraulic winch from JonRie of New Jersey and has accommodations for seven crew members.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding built "Elk River" in a controlled indoor environment, in one of their new hull fabrication buildings. The tug was then rolled out to the launch way where it was side launched into the Wicomico River. Chesapeake has upgraded its facility greatly in recent years to increase its production capacity and efficiency.