Services

The Com­pa­ny pro­vides trained and ful­ly equipped line­han­dlers to meet ves­sel and Lock­mas­ter require­ments for a ves­sel’s safe tran­sit though the Locks. Often­times, line­han­dling ser­vices are ordered and coor­di­nat­ed with require­ments for tug­boat assis­tance pro­vid­ed by Group affil­i­ate, The Great Lakes Tow­ing Com­pa­ny. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi­neers’ reg­u­la­tions also require tug­boat assis­tance for tran­sit­ing ves­sels under cer­tain con­di­tions due to close quar­ters, slow speed maneu­ver­ing, and for ves­sels not equipped with bow and stern thrusters.  Ves­sels equipped with bow thrusters and fric­tion winch­es require two (2) line­han­dlers on the piers under nor­mal weath­er con­di­tions and three (3) under severe weath­er con­di­tions. If a ves­sel is expe­ri­enc­ing mechan­i­cal prob­lems or extreme severe weath­er sit­u­a­tions, the Lock­mas­ter may require four (4) line­han­dlers on the pier for a ves­sel’s transit.