Great Lakes Towing extends services to Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay, WI – Following a fleet renewal program that has increased the size of its fleet, the Great Lakes Towing Co. is expanding its harbor towing and ice breaking services to Sturgeon Bay, WI.
Tug services in Sturgeon Bay have historically been provided by Sarter Marine Towing (formerly Selvick Marine Towing.
Great Lakes Towing’s fleet renewal program began with the laying of 10 keels in August 2016. Since then, the company has added five new Damen Stan 1907 ICE design tugs to its fleet, with the sixth set for delivery next month and the seventh in Spring 2022.
As well as improving the quality, safety and reliability of the services the company provides to its customers, it has also increased the size of the towing fleet. This has allowed the company to look for other areas to expand its area of operations and improve its lakes-wide coverage.
There will now be two Great Lakes Towing tugs stationed in Sturgeon Bay full time, including the former Navy YTB Ontarioand Hawaii. The company says these tugs will offer timely services for vessels calling at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) and also provide strong ice breaking assets at the mid-southern end of Green Bay.
“We are excited to expand our services to better serve the Great Lakes maritime community. As we continue to grow our fleet, we will continue to seek out new and better ways to service the needs of our customers,” says Gregg Thauvette, executive vice president, operations, at the Great Lakes Towing Company. “A couple years ago we stationed a tug in Monroe (Michigan) and now we look forward to seeing you in Sturgeon Bay!”
Marine Log
Obituary: John S. “Jack” Frost
Detroit, MI – Past International Shipmasters’ Detroit Lodge President Jack Frost passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital after a short battle with pneumonia and leukemia. Born on August 21, 1952, he was 69 years old.
Jack is survived by his wife Anita, mother Christine Frost, sister Marian (Daniel) Orsini, brother Gary (Rosie MacKenzie) Frost, sister Phyllis (Jim) Dujovski, brother Ray Frost, and sister Carolyn (Mike) Bailey. He was preceded in death by his father Leo Frost. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Jack grew up in Southwest Detroit and spent summers in Belle River, Ontario on Lake St. Clair. After graduating from St. Gabriel Catholic High School in 1970, he entered the U.S. Air Force serving in North Carolina, Florida, Turkey and North Dakota.
Following his Honorable Discharge, he enrolled at Minot State College in Minot, ND. Jack attended college for a year and then operated a Rotor Rooter franchise in Minot for two years. In 1976 Jack returned to Detroit and started working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1977 Jack met Anita Lester and they were married in 1984 by the Mayor of Lincoln Park. He enjoyed playing Santa Claus at family gatherings.
Jack held a number of positions with the Corps over the years, and began his sailing career as a deckhand on the tug Forney, moving on to the derrick Huron as deckhand and deck machine operator, and then taking a position as oiler on the derrick Haines. During this time as the need arose, he worked on several other tugs and crane barges in the Corps of Engineers fleet. In 1989 Jack received his initial Coast Guard license and became Captain of the survey vessel North Central. A master diver, Jack was often up at the Soo Locks in the winter where his dive skills were put to work inspecting the lock gates. He worked seven different disasters while with the Corps. In 2003 and 2004 he was sent overseas and performed duties in Baghdad, Iraq. In 1999, he was moved to the Corps front office in cost estimating and specifications because of his knowledge of the Great Lakes marine industry. He retired as Senior Cost Estimator in January 2013 at the age of 60. After retiring from the Corps of Engineers, he was often hired by FEMA to work as a cost estimator during several national disasters. His assignments took him to states impacted by Hurricane Katrina, to California with its devastating wildfire damage and to Wisconsin after a rash of tornadoes in that state.
Jack maintained his 200-ton towing license by working with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets aboard the training vessel Grayfox. After retiring from the Corps of Engineers, he worked with Diamond Jack River Cruises as skipper aboard their passenger vessel Diamond Belle.
Jack was an avid Detroit Tigers fan. He attended many games during the season including many opening days. In recent years his love of baseball took him down to Lakeland, Florida where he had season tickets to the Tigers spring training games.
Jack loved to travel. His connection to the U.S. Air Force, the Corps of Engineers, FEMA and road trips with his brother took him to 47 states and 23 countries over the years.
Captain Frost joined Detroit Lodge No. 7 on Dec. 12, 1989, and was a member for nearly 32 years. He was issued pennant number 10977. He served four years (1992 through 1995) as lodge warden, was elected lodge President in 2005 and served as the lodge’s convention delegate at the 2006 convention. Jack and his wife Anita attended numerous ISMA Conventions over the years. Jack was appointed and installed as Grand Marshal at the 2008 and 2010 conventions and served in that capacity at the 2009 and 2011 Conventions. In 2012, his fellow lodge members honored him with the Lewis Ludington Award.
Visitation will be Sunday, November 21, from noon to 3:00 pm at the Allen Park Chapel of Voran Funeral Home, 5900 Allen Road, Allen Park (313-928-2300) The funeral service will be at 3:00 pm at the funeral home. Donations may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
