New building for Chesapeake Shipbuilding

SALISBURY -- Gillis Gilkerson Construction  announces the successful completion of Chesapeake Shipbuilding's new, two-story, state-of-the-art building, spanning an impressive +/-10,000 square feet. The new office building is located within bounds of Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s commercial shipyard located along the Wicomico River and marks a significant addition to Chesapeake Shipbuilding's growing presence in the Salisbury area.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding has with over 30 years of direct industry experience, designing and building commercial ships up to 450 feet in length, suitable for inland waterway or ocean service. Gillis Gilkerson is honored to have partnered with this industry leader on a project that strengthens their foothold in the community.

American Cruise Lines orders 3 more vessels so 5 are due in 2024/25

American Cruise Lines contracted three vessels for delivery in 2025 from Chesapeake Shipbuilding.

These join the two Coastal Cats — American Liberty and American Legend — already under construction for 2024 delivery from the Salisbury, Maryland shipyard.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivers American Glory

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivered American Glory, the second new Coastal Cat for American Cruise Lines this year year.

ACL said the 100-passenger ship passed sea trials 'with flying colors.'

Additional ships in the Coastal Cats series are already under construction, with the next two scheduled for delivery in 2024.

Salisbury-built American Eagle enter into East Coast service

Salisbury-built American Eagle, the first American Cruise Lines’ Coastal Cat, has passed sea trials with flying colors.

American Cruise Lines accepted delivery of the 100-passenger small ship from Chesapeake Shipbuilding on-time as scheduled. American Eagle is the first of 12 new Coastal Cats American Cruise Lines is planning to build at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury.

The next four ships are already under construction for delivery over the next year.

The new boat is the first in its class and the namesake of American Cruise Lines’ first vessel in 1972.

American Eagle is already on its way to Massachusetts, where it will embark on its first passenger cruise. The new ship will sail a slate of 100 percent U.S. itineraries along the East Coast which will blend the luxury of river cruising with the access and adventure of expedition cruising.

American Eagle’s first cruise is scheduled to depart Monday, Aug. 14, following the line’s popular 8-Day Cape Codder itinerary, round trip from Boston.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivers another riverboat to ACL

American Cruise Lines (ACL) announced recently that it has accepted delivery of the 328'x60'4", 180 passenger American Serenade from Chesapeake Shipbuilding as scheduled. The new riverboat is the sixth riverboat in the company’s Modern Series, and the 18th small ship built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding for ACL.

American Serenade will immediately join the company’s expanding Mississippi River fleet and will begin plying the famous waterway this month. American Serenade’s first cruise is set to depart April 20th from New Orleans, and American Cruise Lines plans to christen the new riverboat during its inaugural cruise on April 23 while visiting Vidalia, La.

“American Serenade shows our continued commitment to small ships for America’s rivers. She has the same spacious features as her five sisterships and a design package that wows everyone who boards,” Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines, said in a statement announcing the delivery. Introduced just a few months after American Symphony and just a few months before American Eagle, the new ship is a testament to ACL’s rapidly increasing production capability.

The new riverboat features five decks and offers 100% private balcony staterooms, including suites and singles. The boat’s interior design incorporates a liberal use of glass, allowing for enhanced views throughout the ship. 

American Cruise Lines starts construction of third Coastal Cat

American Cruise Lines (ACL), Guilford, Conn., is moving steadily ahead on its Project Blue project that will see it add a series of 241 feet long, 56 feet wide catamaran hulled vessels to its fleet. In total, ACL plans to build a dozen of the 105-guest coastal cats.

All the ships are being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s Salisbury, Md., shipyard where construction of the third Coastal Cat, American Liberty has now begun. Construction of the first two, American Eagle and American Glory, is underway and they are set for delivery in 2023, with American Liberty scheduled to begin cruising in May 2024.

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Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury Awarded $1M Federal Grant

SALISBURY, Md. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen John Sarbanes and Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) on Tuesday announced $1,114,539 in federal funding through the Department of Transportation to help the Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation in Salisbury, which specializes in cruise ship production, with increased demand for cruise travel as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Funding comes through the Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2022 Maritime Administration Small Shipyard Grant, which is designed to support shipyard operations and improvements at facilities with fewer than 1,200 employees.

“As the tourism and travel industry recovers, it is imperative that we provide our small shipyards with the resources they need to stay competitive in the market. The Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation has done a great job keeping up with demand and this federal funding will help it further scale its business, spurring job growth and boosting the local economy,” the lawmakers said. “We are proud of the company’s contribution to the Maryland economy and are pleased to announce these investments in its growth. We look forward to the yard’s continued success.”

Chesapeake Delivers Mv. Charles Hughes To Vane Brothers

Vane Brothers, Baltimore, a marine transportation provider on the U.S. East, West and Gulf coasts, took delivery earlier this year of the final boat in a series of four 3,000 hp. Salisbury Class towboats. Named the mv. Charles Hughes, Vane’s newest addition is the 20th Maryland-built towing vessel to join Vane Brothers’ fleet since 2008.

Designed and constructed by Chesapeake Shipbuilding, the shipbuilders and naval architects best known lately for a series of five river cruise boats it has built for American Cruise Lines, the Charles Hughes measures 94 by 34 by 10.5 feet with a draft of 8.5 feet.

About Chesapeake Shipbuilding

Established in 1980 and situated on 13 acres of waterfront on the Wicomico River in Salisbury, MD, the shipyard has become a leading designer and builder of a notable array of commercial ships up to 450 feet in length. The shipyard’s vessels operate all over the world and are suited for inland waterway or ocean service. Specializing in the design and construction of overnight passenger vessels and tugboats has enabled the company to develop an unrivaled expertise in this field. The shipyard offers highly competitive wages, bonuses, and benefits.

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