One of the items up for bids during Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Fire and Ice Silent Auction on February 19th was a tug ride donated by The Great Lakes Towing Company (the “Towing Company”).  Destination Sturgeon Bay’s largest annual fundraiser is an event that takes place each year in February and includes family friendly events such as an organized hike, ice carving, snowman building, the dinner and auction, and a gala.

The Towing Company is the newest tugboat operation in Sturgeon Bay.  Last fall, the Company stationed two (2) tugs in Sturgeon Bay, including one of its historic “G” tugs and a former Navy YTB.  These tugs offer timely ship assist services to the Towing Company’s customers calling at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) and they also provide strong ice breaking assets for ice work in the channel and the mid-Southern end of Green Bay.

Introduced to the Fire and Ice event by Marine Travelift, the Towing Company thought a tugboat ride around the scenic Sturgeon Bay area aboard one of its tugs would make a nice auction item and help contribute to the local community.  The tug ride will take place sometime over the summer.

“Since we’re new to the area, we were looking for a way to get involved a little bit.  A simple monetary gift is always helpful, but the donation of the tug ride gives us the opportunity to meet local residents and generate some funding for community development at the same time.  As the new kid on the block, it is important to us to introduce ourselves, be good citizens, and make a contribution to our new neighbors.  We care a lot about the communities in all the ports we serve, and when Erich Pfeifer shared this opportunity with us, we knew it would be a nice way to get involved in Sturgeon Bay.  An event like this helps us partner with and support other area businesses in a positive way, and we are happy to play a small part!” says Joe Starck, president of the Towing Company.  “I look forward to meeting the lucky winners of the tug ride!”