Great Lakes Towing Christens New Harbor Tug
The Great Lakes Towing Company celebrated the christening of its newest tugboat, Puerto Rico, May 28 at Collision Bend Brewing Company along the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio.
The ceremony brought together employees, customers, industry partners and friends to commemorate the newest addition to the company’s fleet.
Sara Fuentes, president of the Transportation Institute, served as the vessel’s sponsor and performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony.
Puerto Rico is the 10th tug in The Great Lakes Towing Company’s fleet renewal program, focused on renewing and modernizing the company’s historic fleet for continued service across the Great Lakes. It was built by Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland.
The vessel is part of the Damen Stan Tug 1907 ICE design series, a fleet of state-of-the-art harbor tugs engineered to provide ship assistance, towing and icebreaking services. The vessels feature improved performance, enhanced crew accommodations, greater operating efficiency and reduced environmental impact, according to The Great Lakes Towing Company.
The christening also celebrated the continued relationship between The Great Lakes Towing Company and broader U.S. maritime history, the company said. The event highlighted the shared commitment among maritime leaders to strengthen American shipping, support the Jones Act and promote the future of the domestic maritime workforce.
