specifically Wyoming, built in Cleveland. All these photos come thanks to Isaac Pennock, who writes, “If I’ve got your guidelines for December correct, the tug Wyoming should fit. She was built in Cleveland in 1929 as a steam tug. Converted to diesel in 1953. Repowered with her current engine (EMD 12-645-E6) in 1980. She was chartered to McAllister in Charleston for one year in 1993. [Does anyone have photos of her working in Charleston?] Now GLT’s lead tug in the port of Detroit. 84 feet long, 2,000 horsepower. She has held the same name & same owner for her entire career.
Whether you like to be reminded of winter or not, let’s start with some cold water photos.
Why G-tugs? Check the stack. Franz von Riedel devotes a whole chapter to this long run of boats in his heavily illustrated Tugs of the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes ports have hot seasons also.
Click here for a few pages on the G-tugs from TES. I recall my surprise upon learning that Great Lakes Towing was created at the turn of the 19th/20th century by a group of industrialists including John D. Rockefeller.
Click here, here, and here for previous tugster posts with G-tugs. SS Columbia crossed Lake Erie this summer on G-tug wire. Earlier this fall, Great Lakes Shipyard christened a new tug for the NY Power Authority/Niagara project.
Many thanks to Isaac for sharing these photos.
tugster: a waterblog 
3 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 8, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Bob
Will, If I’m not mistaken, a couple of those boats also spent some time in Pensacola, FL following the Charleston stint.
December 8, 2015 at 2:14 pm
tugster
let me bring some comments over from FB: At one point two G-tugs worked in Puerto Rico and known as Punta Lima and Punta Tuna. According to shipbuilding.com, Punta Lima was built in 1910 as W. L. Mercereau, changed to New Mexico, and then to Punta Lima. Punta Tuna was built in 1915 as Missouri, then changed to Polk, Michigan, Punta Tuna, Superior, and is now Cape Flattery and may be working in St Croix VI. Also, when Wyoming was working in Charleston, it had a McAllister-striped stack. Here’s the GL Shipbuilding database: http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/active/greatlakestowing.htm
December 10, 2015 at 1:43 pm
tugboathunter
Now I want to see a pic of her in Charleston, too! From what info I’ve been able to find, Cape Flattery is probably still working in St. Croix, although I wish I could find a photo. Not sure what ever happened to the Punta Lima.