Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has started cutting steel for the first of four advanced escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine at its Allanton Facility. The ceremony was attended by key members of Saltchuk’s leadership team, with these high-performance vessels set for delivery in 2026. Joey D’Isernia, Chairman and CEO of ESG, expressed excitement about constructing these state-of-the-art escort tugs, confident they will raise the bar for performance in Pacific Ocean operations.
Saltchuk Marine’s President and CEO, Jason Childs, praised ESG as the ideal partner for building their next generation of harbor tugboats. The four vessels are designed to improve physical and environmental performance, setting a new industry standard that will benefit American commerce for years to come. ESG’s track record of delivering high-quality, resilient tugs on time and within budget over the past two decades solidifies their reputation as a leading U.S. builder of commercial vessels.
The vessel specifications for the Saltchuk escort tugs include an overall length of 84 feet, a molded breadth of 42 feet, and a draft of 18 feet 7 inches for navigation. These vessels will accommodate up to 8 persons and have a minimum bollard pull of 95 short tons. Powered by Caterpillar 3516E engines and Schottel RudderPropeller thrusters, these escort tugs are designed to meet stringent EPA Tier 4 and CARB environmental standards. The project marks the beginning of Saltchuk Marine’s fleet renewal initiative, aimed at enhancing West Coast port operations.
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