Amoco Michigan was constructed in 1982 as Bay Shipbuilding’s Hull #732 at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for Amoco Oil Company of Indiana. She is 107’08’’ long, 34’ wide, and 16’ deep, and powered by a pair of General Motors EMD 20-645-E6 diesel engines producing 3900 BHP. She was paired with the barge Amoco Great Lakes after completion, which was built by the same shipyard. The pair were not originally an articulated tug-barge unit, but rather lashed together using a cable and winch system. Amoco Michigan / Amoco Great Lakes entered service in September 1982.

In 1985, the pair were sold, and Amoco was removed from both vessels’ names. Amoco Michigan was renamed Michigan. The tug-barge pair were operated by Keystone Shipping.

In 2010, the pair were acquired by Chicago Marine Asset, retaining their names.

Michigan and her barge Great Lakes were sold once again in 2011 to their present owner, U.S. Oil Inc. of Appleton, Wisconsin. Management of the vessels was contracted to Andrie, Inc., of Muskegon, Michigan.

In 2015, Michigan was retrofitted with an Articouple ATB coupler pin system, and the barge Great Lakes was retrofitted with the receiver, making the pair an actual Articulated Tug-Barge unit. Michigan / Great Lakes continue to be active in the petroleum trades on the Lakes, transporting petroleum products between Green Bay, Wisconsin, and several other Great Lakes ports.

Written by Brendan Falkowski

Amoco Great lakes was constructed in 1982 as the tank barge Hull #731 Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for Amoco Oil Company of Indiana. She is 141’ long, 60’ wide, and 30’ deep, and can carry 75,000 Bbls. at her mid-summer draft of 23’08’’. She was laid down in the graving dock on March 18, 1982, and floated out on July 10, 1982. She entered service in September, being paired with the tugboat Amoco Michigan, constructed by the same shipyard.

In 1985, the pair were sold, and Amoco was removed from both vessels’ names. Amoco Great Lakes was renamed Great Lakes. The tug-barge pair were operated by Keystone Shipping.

In 2010, the pair were acquired by Chicago Marine Asset, retaining their names.

Great Lakes and her tug Michigan were sold once again in 2011 to their present owner, U.S. Oil Inc. of Appleton, Wisconsin. Management of the vessels was contracted to Andrie, Inc., of Muskegon, Michigan.

In 2015, Great Lakes was retrofitted with an Articouple ATB coupler receiver, and the tug Michigan was retrofitted with the pin system, making the pair an actual Articulated Tug-Barge unit. Michigan / Great Lakes continue to be active in the petroleum trades on the Lakes, transporting petroleum products between Green Bay, Wisconsin, and several other Great Lakes ports.

Written by Brendan Falkowski