The Great Lakes Towing Company and The National Museum of the Great Lakes celebrated in a dual ceremony that christened the new Tug OHIO into service and dedicated the historic Tug OHIO as a part of the museum.

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.

“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.”

Joe Starck, President, The Great Lakes Towing Company

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.”

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.  Learn more at www.thegreatlakesgroup.com.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes was founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society.  The mission of the organization is to preserve and make known the history of the Great Lakes.  In 2014, the Society opened the National Museum of the Great Lakes on the banks of the Maumee River in Toledo.  Learn more at www.nmgl.org.