Great Lakes Towing chief retires after 35 years of service

After 35 years of service at Cleveland, Ohio, US-headquartered Great Lakes Towing, chief executive Joe Starck, is retiring on 2 July 2026.

He has played a pivotal role in reshaping of the 126-year-old company into a modern provider of towage and ship docking services in almost 50 US and two Canadian ports in North America’s Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway.

President of towing, Gregg Thauvette, chief financial officer, Ken Kure, and president of Great Lakes Shipyard, Tom Rigolo, will continue to oversee their respective business lines, reporting to Great Lakes Towing’s board of maritime industry veterans.

In his retirement message, Mr Starck recognised the hard work by tugboat crews and shore management to improve towage operations in the Great Lakes.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and our unwavering commitment to operational excellence and safety, which are at the core of our business,” he said.

“Over the years, we have focused on maintaining and strengthening Great Lakes Towing’s role as the clear leader in the Great Lakes, with a dominant market position and a reputation for professionalism, performance, and reliability.”

In response, Great Lakes Towing chairman of the board, Jonathan Whitworth, thanked Mr Starck for his long-term career commitment to the company and is role in modernising its tugboat fleet.

“Throughout his years at Great Lakes Towing, Mr Starck has worked to maintain and strengthen the hard-won legacy for operational excellence, safety, and customer service,” said Mr Whitworth.

“Most recently, he has overseen a successful newbuilding programme that has brought 10 modern towboats into Great Lakes Towing.”

Great Lakes Towing welcomed the 10th newbuild tugboat, Puerto Rico, to the fleet at a ceremony at Collision Bend Brewing Co on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland at the end of May 2026.