Museum Adds Tug OHIO to Exhibit

Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT), the largest U.S.-flag tugboat company engaged in towing on the Great Lakes,  christened the new Tug OHIO into service and dedicated the historic Tug OHIO as a part of  the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

A press release from GLT said that the newly constructed Tug OHIO is the second Damen Stan Tug 1907 ICE design that Great Lakes Shipyard has delivered to The Great Lakes Towing Company.  

The tug is 64’x24’x11’, powered by two 1,000-hp MTU 8V4000 Tier III diesel engines, and generates over 30-tons of bollard pull.  Its compact size and high maneuverability make it ideal for the narrow waterways and low bridges that characterize harbor towing on the Great Lakes, it said.

said Joe Starck, President, The Great Lakes Towing Company said: “The new harbor tug is aptly named OHIO:  She was built by skilled Ohio craftsmen in an Ohio shipyard, for an Ohio-based company, will operate on Ohio waters and serve Ohio ports.  In addition, her construction cost was supported by the Ohio EPA.”

The Tug OHIO will be placed in service in the Port of Toledo, OH.  In 2017, the Tug CLEVELAND was the first new tug built as part of the Company’s fleet renewal program.  

The third and fourth tugs, MICHIGAN and PENNSYLVANIA, will be complete in July and October 2019, respectively.  The fifth tug is not yet named but has a scheduled completion of Spring 2020.  Additional follow-on tugs are available for purchase by third party buyers.

The Museum Tug OHIO, previously named the LAURENCE C. TURNER served in the Towing Company fleet for over 60 years.  The tug will now serve as a museum exhibit after more than 115-years of service on the Great Lakes.

“This is a day to celebrate the past, present, and future of Great Lakes commercial shipping.  We are proud to work with The Great Lakes Towing Company on this unique dual christening ceremony.  The Museum Tug OHIO will share this history for years to come,.” said Chris Gillcrist, Director, The National Museum of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Towing Company provides commercial tugboat services such as harbor assist, cargo transportation, and ice breaking in more than 35 U.S. ports across the Great Lakes.  Great Lakes Shipyard is a full-service shipyard for new vessel construction, custom fabrication, and vessel maintenance and repair.