PIPELINE THE VANE BROTHERS COMPANY WINTER 2017 FIRST FOR 2017 Vane’s Latest 4,200-HP Tug: First-Rate and Named For the First State also inside: MEET THE PORT CAPTAINS • MARINE LAUNCH MAKES STRIDES Photo Moment A PEACEFUL EXCHANGE hile the first-in-class stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt W(DDG-1000) was in Baltimore for Maryland Fleet Week festivities, the Vane tugboat Chatham and barge B-202 performed bunkering duties. The 610-foot-long Zumwalt, described as the Navy’s largest destroyer and most technologically advanced warship, was commissioned October 17 during a ceremony at North Locust Point and has joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet, operating out of San Diego. The Zumwalt’s motto is “Pax Propter Vim,” Latin for “Peace Through Power.” You can read about Vane Brothers’ Maryland Fleet Week activities News media provided aerial coverage of the bunkering job. on page 10. CONTENTS Winter 2017 Vol. 16, No. 1 1 Newest Vane Vessels The Pipeline is published quarterly by: 2 Meet the Port Captains The Vane Brothers Companies Solid Marine Launch System 2100 Frankfurst Avenue / Baltimore, MD 21226 6 410-631-7773 www.vanebrothers.com Panama Canal Expansion 8 Executive Editor: Elizabeth S. Hughes Editor: Blaise Willig 10 Fleet Week Picnic and Air Show Associate Editor: Bethany Vellucci 12 Portlight: Pride II Captain Jan Miles Ideas or comments? Email: [email protected] Deadline for next issue: March 1, 2017 14 New Faces – New Talent Production and Design: PCA of Timonium 17 News and Notes On the cover: The new tug Delaware moves Then and Now beyond Mathews Bridge on the St. Johns 21 Rivernear Vane’s Jacksonville, Florida, office. Photo by Senior Port Captain Jim Demske. Vessels FIRST-RATE TUG NAMED FOR ‘FIRST STATE’ Delaware Joins Fleet, Soon to Be Followed By Several More Vessels ith the new year comes another chapter in Vane WBrothers’ New Vessel Construction Program. Now that The model bow tug Delaware heads off toward the horizon in a mid-December photo taken by Senior the tugboat Delaware has joined the Port Captain Jim Demske. company’s Philadelphia-based Echo says, “Vane Brothers, Saint Johns and the assembly process: “Once the bow Fleet, attention turns to four more Entech are creating some of the nicest and stern sections are complete, they 4,200-horsepower tugs scheduled for tugs any crew will have the pleasure to are transported via floating drydock to delivery in 2017. Two 3,000-horsepower work on, period.” the Deepwater South Yard, where they tugs are also making their debut this are fitted to the midbody. The bow is From Chesapeake Shipbuilding in year, along with Vane’s second purpose- transported in two assemblies weighing Salisbury, Maryland, the Fishing Creek built asphalt barge and the first of three approximately 149 and 218 tons, recently emerged as Vane’s 13th articulated tug/barge (AT/B) units. respectively. The stern is transported 3,000-horsepower Sassafras Class Named for the first state to ratify the U.S. as a single assembly weighing nearly tugboat. Next in line is the Cape May, Constitution, the Delaware is the fourth 465 tons. Once it arrives at Deepwater arriving this summer. of eight 100-foot-long Elizabeth Anne South, it is divided into three sub- Class tugboats designed by Frank Basile, BARGE AND AT/B PROGRESS assemblies to facilitate handling and P.E., of Entech Designs and contracted fitting to the midbody.” The Double Skin 510A, a 55,000-barrel through St. Johns Shipbuilding of asphalt barge built in the same vein as The DS-801 and Assateague are Palatka, Florida. The Philadelphia is 2015’s DS-509A, was launched early in scheduled for a late summer delivery, scheduled for delivery in February, and the new year from Conrad’s Deepwater followed by two more AT/Bs in 2018. then comes the New York this spring. South Yard in Amelia, Louisiana. Final Senior Port Captain Jim Demske, outfitting and system testing followed, who oversees construction of Vane’s leading up to the DS-510A’s scheduled new tugboats, says that certain delivery around the end of February. enhancements to the original Entech Conrad Deepwater South also spent the design make the Elizabeth Anne Class winter of 2016 working on the midbody of tugs “just a little more special.” assemblies for the Double Skin 801, an While crews appreciate the ample 80,000-barrel barge that will be paired headroom, additional sound-deadening with the Assateague, a 4,400-horsepower material and other creature comforts, tugboat designed by Castleman functionality is heightened thanks to Maritime. Fabrication of the DS-801’s such features as bigger and more robust bow and stern sections occurred at the firefighting systems, a top-of-the-line nearby Conrad Aluminum Shipyard. Unlimited Controls alarm system, and the newest SIMRAD Electronics package Vane Special Projects Manager Steve This photo from Vane Consultant Russ installed by Rhodes Electronics. Demske Magdeburger offers this explanation of Howerter shows a ballast tank and ballast piping within the midbody of the DS-801. vanebrothers.com Fall 2016 / Pipeline 1 Workforce MEET THE FLEET OPERATIONS TEAM A Quick Q&A with Vane’s Fleet Managers and Port Captains verseeing the soup-to-nuts of fleet operations is the daily duty of the company’s Port Captains, some of whom have been doing it here at Vane for a decade now. OAmong a variety of tasks, they make staffing decisions in support of the vessels in their respective fleet, manage Port Engineers and Vessel Supervisors, review payroll, participate in the shipyard process, and interface with customers. “The Operations team that has been assembled at Vane since 2007 is truly one of the most highly skilled and experienced teams in our industry, having collectively amassed 233 years of experience,” says General Manager Rick Iuliucci, whose own 10-year anniversary with Vane comes up in April. “In the 37 years I have been in the tug/barge industry, I have never worked with a better team of professionals. The ability to draw on this experience, and the high standards that each individual sets, allows Vane to excel and far exceed customer requirements and greatly assists in supporting Vane’s growing fleet of tugs and barges.” To get to know them a little better, we recently conducted a brief Q&A with each Port Captain as well as the Fleet Managers to whom they report. We asked them why they do what they do and what led them to Vane. They also told us about their daily challenges and most memorable experiences, and then let us know how they like to unwind after a busy day at the office. Iuliucci adds, “Personally, I am extremely proud to be associated with this team and do believe they set the standard in the industry.” shoreside and vessel employees in Brooklyn who worked very hard enjoy being a part of.” to clean up the flooded office and warehouse was an illustration of their Important decisions you face dedication to the job. They worked regularly: under very difficult conditions without “Crew assign-ments. Tug or any complaint to clean up and rebuild barge crews must not only be the office, shop and warehouse while knowledgeable and capable continuing to oversee and support the of performing their job, but operation of the fleet.” they must work together and complement each other’s Your attraction to Vane: knowledge and experience.” “The opportunity to open and grow the business in a new location for JOHN BOWIE Your most memorable Vane Fleet Manager-Alpha and Bravo Fleets, experience: Vane Brothers.” Port of New York and New Jersey “Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The An interesting previous job: Resident of Ridge, New York Joined Vane: September 2009 preparation and execution of our “Bay Constable in Oyster Bay, New York.” plan by the vessel crews kept everyone Most rewarding aspect of your job: Outside interests: and every vessel safe, and the response “A smooth-running operation that “Boating, fishing, kayaking and hiking.” of the shoreside and vessel employees 2 Pipeline / Fall 2016 vanebrothers.com BRIAN RAU FRED DABRITZ Bravo Fleet Port Captain Charlie Fleet Port Captain Resident of Long Island, New York Resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey Joined Vane: July 2013 Joined Vane: May 2007 Most rewarding aspect of Most rewarding aspect of your job: your job: “It always comes down to the people. I “The people I work with.” get great satisfaction from seeing our crewmembers grow professionally. Important decisions you face regularly: If I have helped to the guide those individuals in their path of choice, it gives “The majority of my decisions me an even more rewarding feeling.” involve crew placement, DAN McPHERSON expenses and day-to-day Alpha Fleet Port Captain Resident of Dumont, New Jersey operations on the equipment.” Joined Vane: March 2014 Your most memorable Most rewarding aspect of the job: Vane experience: “Keeping a fleet of tugs and barges “Sailing aboard the Sassafras operating at a high level of safety and during the 2016 Fleet Week’s efficiency in one of the busiest ports in Parade of Ships in New York the world.” Harbor. The tug was the lead vessel in the parade.” Important decisions you face regularly: “Are the people manning our Your attraction to Vane: equipment trained, instructed, “Vane has always had a good equipped and supervised in the best reputation within the industry and with Important decisions you face regularly: fashion so as to accomplish the jobs a continued investment in “Typically, it can be broken down into for our customers in the most safe and new construction.” three areas: managing crew-related efficient manner possible?” An interesting previous job: issues, managing maintenance-related issues, and managing regulatory- Your most memorable Vane experience: “Sailing with Maritrans for several years related issues.” “Putting the tug Fort Schuyler into up and down the East Coast and the Gulf service in 2015.