The almost-identical Vane tugs come in two sizes . . . externally distinguishable by the height of the upper wheelhouse.
Contrast the tower of Bohemia above with that of Sassafras below. Some I hear call the Bohemia etc. as the 4200 series and Sassafras the 3000 . .. as in horsepower.
Elk River and Oyster Creek . . . size?
Bohemia and Sassafras (?) again.
You were right if you grouped Patapsco and Anacostia with the 4200s, and the other two with the 3000 series.
I wonder about the communication going on here . . a line of kayaks heading up the river as Elk River is attempting to turn to port aka “to the left”.
Click here for more info on the Vane tugs.


















4 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 27, 2011 at 6:10 pm
HT
The 4200 hp tugs are called the Patapsco class, and the 3000 hp are called the Sassafras class. There is one Tug in the Patapsco class that is a little bigger and has 5000 hp is the Tug Chesapeake.
October 27, 2011 at 9:14 pm
tugster
for a foto of chesapeake taken just over two years ago . . . , click here: http://tugster.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/vane-brothers-1/
October 28, 2011 at 12:55 am
tugpowerHarold E. Tartell
The PATAPSCO-Class 4200′S were all built by Thoma-Sea Boat Builders, Houma, La. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/active/thomasea.htm, http://www.thoma-sea.com/. They include ANACOSTIA, BOHEMIA, CHESAPEAKE, CHOPTANK, MAGOTHY, NANTICOKE, PATAPSCO, PATUXENT, POCOMOKE, POTOMAC, SEVERN, SUSQUEHANNA, TUCKAHOE, WICOMICO, & WYE RIVER. CHESAPEAKE is the largest in this class. The majority are powered by twin Caterpillar 3516 Diesels totaling 4200 hp. CHESAPEAKE has twin Caterpillar 3516 Diesels totaling 5000 hp. Their propellers are encased in Type 37 Kort Nozzles for increased thrust. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kort_nozzle. These vessels are more versatile for deepwater towing, as the nozzles increase speed due to the extra thrust The Kort Nozzles in shallower water such as creeks are more apt to pick up floating and underwater debris and even ice which can jam and lock up a propeller The majority are 98 Gross Tons, 67 Gross Tons, 95.7 feet in length, a beam of 34 feet, and a depth of 24.3 feet. Larger CHESAPEAKE is 213 Gross Tons, 145 Net Tons, is 111.2 feet in length, with a beam of 36 feet, and a depth of 16.7 feet.
The SASSAFRAS-Class 3000′s were all built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp., Salisbury, Md. http://www.chesapeakeshipbuilding.com/, http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/active/chesapeake.htm. They include CHARLES BURTON, ELK RIVER, HUNTING CREEK, OYSTER CREEK, QUANTICO CREEK, & SASSAFRAS. These vessels are powered by twin Caterpillar 3512 Diesels totaling 3,000 hp. http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=D80CF666FF514074A3642CAC88B4DB60, http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&i. This class was built smaller for maneuverability, the ability to work in shallow creeks and rivers, and for Vane’s increasing bunkering business. Horsepower and speed as in the larger PATAPSCO-class was not needed here. These tugs are 99 Gross Tons, 72 Net Tons,are 90,2 feet in length, a beam of 32 feet,and a depth of 13.5 feet.
More information on these vessels can be found at this link: http://tugboatinformation.com/company.cfm?id=38
October 28, 2011 at 1:01 am
Harold E. Tartell
October 28, 2011 at 12:55 am
tugpowerHarold E. Tartell
The PATAPSCO-Class 4200′S were all built by Thoma-Sea Boat Builders, Houma, La. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/active/thomasea.htm, http://www.thoma-sea.com/. They include ANACOSTIA, BOHEMIA, CHESAPEAKE, CHOPTANK, MAGOTHY, NANTICOKE, PATAPSCO, PATUXENT, POCOMOKE, POTOMAC, SEVERN, SUSQUEHANNA, TUCKAHOE, WICOMICO, & WYE RIVER. CHESAPEAKE is the largest in this class. The majority are powered by twin Caterpillar 3516 Diesels totaling 4200 hp. CHESAPEAKE has twin Caterpillar 3516 Diesels totaling 5000 hp. Their propellers are encased in Type 37 Kort Nozzles for increased thrust. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kort_nozzle. These vessels are more versatile for deepwater towing, as the nozzles increase speed due to the extra thrust The Kort Nozzles in shallower water such as creeks are more apt to pick up floating and underwater debris and even ice which can jam and lock up a propeller The majority are 98 Gross Tons, 67 Gross Tons, 95.7 feet in length, a beam of 34 feet, and a depth of 24.3 feet. Larger CHESAPEAKE is 213 Gross Tons, 145 Net Tons, is 111.2 feet in length, with a beam of 36 feet, and a depth of 16.7 feet.
The SASSAFRAS-Class 3000′s were all built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp., Salisbury, Md. http://www.chesapeakeshipbuilding.com/, http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/active/chesapeake.htm. They include CHARLES BURTON, ELK RIVER, HUNTING CREEK, OYSTER CREEK, QUANTICO CREEK, & SASSAFRAS. These vessels are powered by twin Caterpillar 3512 Diesels totaling 3,000 hp. http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=D80CF666FF514074A3642CAC88B4DB60, http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&i. This class was built smaller for maneuverability, the ability to work in shallow creeks and rivers, and for Vane’s increasing bunkering business. Horsepower and speed as in the larger PATAPSCO-class was not needed here. These tugs are 99 Gross Tons, 72 Net Tons,are 90,2 feet in length, a beam of 32 feet,and a depth of 13.5 feet.
More information on these vessels can be found at this link: http://tugboatinformation.com/company.cfm?id=38