Great Lakes Shipyard continues to work on the first of two (2) new tugboats for New York Power Authority (NYPA) Niagara Power Plant’s winter operations in Buffalo, NY. The new tugs will augment and replace aging vessels that are used for the installation, removal, and maintenance of the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom and various associated marine construction projects.

The new tugs will be specially reinforced with heavy stems and shell reinforcement for operations in seasonal ice. The design of the conventional drive tugs includes elevated pilothouses for improved visibility when maneuvering, as well as a spacious work deck aft to facilitate ice boom connections. The tugs are designed to comply with proposed Subchapter M of Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations for inspected towing vessels.

Delivery of the first tug is scheduled for September 2015.