Choptank . . .
Nanticoke again . . .
Wye River . . . though it looks the same as Nanticoke and Choptank.
Christiana . . . is in a different class, for Vane, although she looks a lot like a certain Reinauer.
Chesapeake . . . thought it could be –at least to my eye– either Wye River, Choptank, or Nanticoke.
Wye River . . . although it could be Chesapeake with nameboards switched?? [No, there’s a slight window difference in the wheelhouse.]
The nameboards say Wicomico.
Wicomico again.
Wicomico a third time, passing what looks like Charles D. McAllister.
Patapsco, according to the nameboards.
Brandywine is a twin of Christiana. At 6000 hp, they’re a smidgeon less than 1/3 more hp than the Patapsco class.
Back to the Patapsco class, it’s Bohemia.
Of that class, I’ve yet to see Patuxent, Anacostia, and Severn.
Has there ever been another company that had 15 identical (are there nuances I’ve missed??) tugboats? And on the Patapsco class, why does the forward companionway lead starboard rather than port?
All fotos . . . Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
9 comments
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October 21, 2009 at 10:48 pm
bowsprite
Wicomico:
don’t say “WEE co MEE co” or you’ll get the same amused smirk I got. It’s “Why COM i co”.
I love the Vane Bros. tugs. mmmmmmm.
October 21, 2009 at 11:54 pm
tugster
why does it seem we’ve had this conversation before?
October 22, 2009 at 5:08 am
jeff s
note that CHESAPEAKE has an extra pilot house wiindow. she is somewhat larger than the PATAPSCO class.
latest is the ELK RIVER which duplicates the SASSAFRAS from Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury . still under construction there is CHARLES BURTON…a departure from the names of those sleepy Chesapeake streams.
October 22, 2009 at 6:10 am
tugster
hey . . sharp eye about that extra window. who is/was charles burton, that he would be a tug’s namesake?
October 23, 2009 at 6:48 am
Anonymous
Named after the son of the owner
when we sold the first Charles Burton to Winslow the owner wanted to assign a new tug with his second sons name
October 22, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Mage B
Fascinating. I’d like to know the start up story with that company.
October 22, 2009 at 7:47 pm
jim demske
There are fourteen (14) of the Patapsco Class tugs. All 4,200 h.p….and most equipped, furnished and laid out exactly the same…note the Port Holes on some of the tugs…The Chesapeake is rated at 4,900 hp and is 116′ x 36′ compared to the 100’x 34′ Patapsco Class…
The Sassafras Class tugs being built in Maryland are 94′ x 32′ and are 3,000 hp…they’ll be up in New York soon….and they are beautiful!
You’ll take notice of the upper house, first.
October 24, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Jim demske
I meant to answer the question about the forward stairs leading from the 01 deck to the main deck
on the port side ( just port of center line) there is an access hatch that gives access to the forward hold
the ladder leads to starboard so it won’t be in the way of the hatch
October 26, 2009 at 9:10 am
paulthepirate(yar!)
Aesthetically, the Chesapeake is something of a stand-out among the 4200-class Vane tugs. She’s got more power, greater sheer, and looks to have beefier scantlings. She’s certainly got a heavier and more rugged bow. The hull was built for another buyer who was unable to see her through to completion, so she was added to the Vane fold.