Tug Fleet Overhaul Commences

The Great Lakes Towing Company has commenced a major overhaul program for its Great Lakes fleet of 37 harbor assist tugboats. The ILLINOIS is the first of the Company’s tugs to undergo this overhaul at the Company’s new Cleveland shipyard. The new 770-ton Travelift; the largest on the Great Lakes, second largest in the Western Hemisphere, and the third largest in the World; permits the yard to “dry dock” on land several vessels at a time. The Great Lakes Towing Company operates the largest fleet of tugs on the Great Lakes serving 40 ports and has been in continuous business for 113 years. 

Also, this April, the Shipyard will deliver another of a series of newly constructed HandySize 3200 HP multi-purpose tugs for a yet undisclosed owner. This state-of-the-art ice strengthened tug is also ideal for use on the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Shipyard is now completing the last phase of a major shipyard modernization and expansion program with its designation as the Rolls-Royce Great Lakes Regional Service Center. The new Shipyard is a full-service yard specializing in new construction, repairs, modifications, and steel and aluminum fabrication of all types of vessels and barges. Most recent projects include winter work on McKeil Marine’s tug/barge JOHN SPENCE and NIAGARA SPIRIT, the Shipyard’s first contract with a Canadian tug/barge company; conversion of Interlake Steamship Company’s integrated tug/barge DOROTHY ANN and PATHFINDER’s Z-drive thrusters from fixed-pitch to controllable pitch; winter work for American Steamship Company’s BUFFALO; construction and delivery of a 60-foot work boat for the Port of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and the simultaneous construction of two 4640 HP state-of-the-art ASD tractor tugs for Caribbean Tugz, LLC, an affiliate of SEACOR Holdings, Inc.