Great Lakes Shipyard starts construction of 69 ft work boat

Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, has laid the keel of a 60-foot work boat for the Port of Milwaukee. The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin awarded the contract in June 2011.  The vessel is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants, Seattle, Wash, the vessel’s capabilities will include general harbor work, icebreaking, salvage and dive operations. The stem and hull shape will be strengthened to optimize performance in ice.  Powered by a single 405 HP Cummins QSK11 Tier II diesel engine, it will have a maximum speed of 10 knots.

Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Towing Company, operates a full-service shipyard specializing in new  construction, repairs, and modifications of all types of workboats and barges.  An expansion project now well underway at its Cleveland location is now well-underway and includes a new state-of•the-art 770-ton Marine Travelift; the largest on the Great Lakes, second largest in the Western Hemisphere, and the third largest in the World.

Current projects include the drydocking of Erie’s flagship, the US Brig Niagara and contracts with SEACOR Holdings, Inc. to build two tugs for operations at the Hovensa Oil Refinery in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

October 12, 2011