Eight Great Lakes Towing tugs get Sub M certificates

Written by Nick Blenkey
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(Standing L to R: Robie Moorhouse , Marine Inspector, USCG; Lindsay Dew, Director of Operations, GLT; Lieutenant Vauna Streeper, Chief of Inspections, USCG; Ken Siford, Jr., Assistant Fleet Engineer, GLT; Scott Tozzi, Principal Surveyor, ABS Cleveland; Joe Starck, President, GLT – Sitting L to R: Gregg Thauvette, VP, Operations, Sales & Marketing, GLT; Nick Wallinder, HSSE Coordinator, GLT)

The Great Lakes Towing Company reports that eight of its tugs, more than a quarter of its active harbor towing fleet, have received U. S. Coast Guard Certificates of Inspection.

The Cleveland, Ohio, based company says that the Certificates of Inspection, issued a full month ahead of the required deadline, represent its dedication to ensuring its tugs meet or exceed the newly implemented Coast Guard Subchapter M towing vessel inspection regulations, commonly referred to as .

The newly certified tugs include the Cleveland and Ohio, two newly constructed Damen Stan Tug 1907 ICE design boats, built by sister company Great Lakes Shipyard, as well as the venerable “G”-Tugs Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Wyoming.

“We are very gratified to have hit this important milestone,” says Nick Wallinder, HSSE Coordinator, leads Great Lakes Towing’s Subchapter M compliance efforts. “ It has been an ‘all hands on deck’ effort. All of us, from our crews to our customers, should take pride in the fact that our tugs meet or exceed the industry’s highest levels of towing safety management.”

Over the last few years, Great Lakes Towing has worked in partnership with the USCG and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in preparation for the enforcement of the new 46 CFR Subchapter M laws.

“ABS is an industry leader in supporting clients achieve compliance with the Subchapter M regulations. We are proud to have been part of team helping The Great Lakes Towing Company to achieve this milestone,” said Joseph Kelly, ABS Vice President, North America Regional Operations.

The issuance of Certificates of Inspection for existing towing vessels is being phased in over four years. Over next three years the remainder of the company’s fleet will be inspected and issued COIs, and by 2022, the entire fleet will be in compliance.

“The Great Lakes Towing Company is at the forefront of the industry’s rigorous ambition to implement the new safety requirements of Subchapter M,” says Lindsay Dew, Director of Operations & Compliance.”I am particularly proud of my team, and as a company we truly appreciate the partnerships that have developed with the Coast Guard and ABS as we continue to obtain certificates for our tugs.”

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