April 22, 2024

Cleveland, OH – The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT), a leader in specialized marine services, including harbor towing, ice breaking, emergency response, vessel repair and construction, and machine shop services, today announced the acquisition of the Barge CRIMSON CLOVER from Crimson Shipping Company, Chickasaw, AL.

GLT has purchased the 270’ x 80’ fully enclosed deck barge (called a “warehouse barge”) from Crimson Shipping and will charter the barge to a newly created operating company named Great Lakes East, LLC. 

Great Lakes East, LLC (GLE) will start up a new Domestic and International marine transportation service which will effectively be a reactivation of Crimson Shipping’s former business, based out of Mobile, AL. However, GLE will shift the primary load port to Fernandina Beach, FL. 

GLE is a U.S. Flag, Jones Act compliant, ocean freight carrier specializing in breakbulk, RORO/ heavy-lift, PL-480, dry bulk, Government & Military, construction, aviation, energy, and EXIM Bank project cargo customers, with regular service to San Juan, PR, and on inducement to neighboring islands and other ports in the Central Caribbean basin, Central America, and the north coast of South America. GLE is taking orders for its maiden voyage that is scheduled to depart Fernandina on June 19^th.   

GLE has partnered with best-in-class terminal operators in the Port of Fernandina and San Juan to receive, load, discharge, and store weather sensitive cargo in on-dock warehouses. GLE is excited to offer a service that can leverage last mile on-dock rail in Fernandina and a strategic, niche loading port that is easily accessible from the main highways in Northeast Florida.

GLE is ready for north or south bound ocean transport of your breakbulk and RORO cargoes. For more information or to obtain a quote, send your inquiries to info@thegreatlakesgroup.com, visit our homepage at www.GreatLakesEastLLC.com or call (216) 367-8112.

About The Great Lakes Towing Company

The Great Lakes Towing Company is the largest U.S. Flag commercial tugboat operator on the Great Lakes, with more than 40 tugs stationed in 14 ports between Duluth, MN and Buffalo, NY. The Towing Company’s lakes-wide services include harbor assist, cargo transportation, and ice breaking in more than 40 U.S. ports. The Company also operates a full-service shipyard in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information about the Towing Company, its range of services, and its Full-Service Lakes-Wide (FSLW) Contracts, please visit www.thegreatlakesgroup.com.