Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) on Wednesday announced it has cut first steel for the lead vessel in a series of four new escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine. The milestone was celebrated with a ceremony at ESG’s facility in Allanton, Fla.
The 84' vessels will be built at ESG’s Allanton and Port St. Joe, Fla., facilities for scheduled delivery in 2026.
The four new tugs mark the beginning of Saltchuk Marine’s fleet renewal program, with each vessel destined for West Coast port operations. The vessels will comply with EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards.
The Robert Allan Ltd.-designed RApport 2600 ship assist/escort tugs will each be equipped with Caterpillar 3516E engines (3,500 hp at 1,800 rpm) and Schottel RudderPropeller SRP 510 thrusters.
Jason Childs, Saltchuk Marine’s president and CEO, said, “The improved physical and environmental performance of these four vessels set a new standard for tugboat design that will positively impact the marine industry and American commerce for the next several decades.”
Joey D’Isernia, chairman and CEO of ESG, said, “We are confident these vessels will set a new standard for performance, providing exceptional service for Pacific Ocean operations.”
Over the last 20 years, ESG has delivered 35 ship assist tugs.
Length, overall: 84' (excluding fenders)
