Great Lakes Towing Co has added two tugs in two months into its fleet operating in North America
Great Lakes Towing celebrated its 120th anniversary with the christening of its newest hybrid-propulsion tugboat, Michigan, on 23 July. This followed the naming of a sister tug, Ohio, in June 2019 as part of a major newbuilding campaign.
These are part of a series of newbuildings modernising Great Lakes’ fleet. The first was Cleveland, which entered service last year.
A fourth tug, Pennsylvania, is scheduled for completion in Q4 2019 and a fifth could enter service in Q2 2020.
Great Lakes said any more tugs built to a similar design would be available for purchase by third party buyers.
This series was designed by Damen and built by Great Lakes’ own shipyard. Michigan is a 19.5-m harbour tug with a 7.3-m beam and 3.4-m hull depth. It is built to a Damen 1907 ICE design with propulsion that meets IMO Tier III emissions requirements and delivers 30 tonnes of bollard pull.
It is powered by two MTU 8V4000 diesel engines (Tier III-rated) and an electric power unit. Its propulsion includes a Logan FlexaDrive hybrid power system, enabling crew to operate Michigan on electric power while at idle, underway at low speeds, or when under low loads, without using the main engines. This reduces emissions and the cost of fuel and engine maintenance.
“The tug’s compact size and high manoeuvrability makes it ideal for the narrow waterways and low bridges that characterise harbour towing on the Great Lakes,” said the towing company.
Great Lakes Towing was incorporated on 7 July 1899. Throughout its 120-year history, this towing company has continuously evolved to provide ships, tugs and barges for the changing demands of the agricultural, steel, and construction industries.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.