The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Manitowoc to Seattle Tow Completed

   Dann Ocean Towing, based out of Tampa, Florida, recently completed an epic long-distance tow from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Seattle, Washington. The purpose of the tow was to transport a large portal crane built in Wisconsin to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
    The tow took about 84 days, including several delays likely due to weather, and covered a distance estimated to be between 10,000 and 11,000 miles.
   The 175 ton capacity, rail-mounted portal-jib crane was built by a partnership between
Konecranes of New Berlin, WI and Broadwind (now Wisconsin Heavy Fabrication) of
Manitowoc, WI. Actual assembly of the roughly 150 foot tall crane took place at Broadwind’s
facilities in Manitowoc, and the crane was substantially completed in 2023. The initial Navy
contract valued the crane at $46 million. Numbered as crane #70, the machine has been
nicknamed “Big Blue” due to its primary paint color.
   The primary tugboat for the voyage was Dann Ocean Towing’s Ocean Tower, a 115 foot long, twin screw, 4080 HP ocean-going tug. The deck barge OC 723 carried the crane.
   The tow left Manitowoc on November 18, 2025 and arrived in Seattle on March 1, 2026.
   Waypoints included arriving at New York City on December 14 th , transiting the Panama Canal on January 9th and 10th , a brief stop in San Diego on February 3, and a delay, probably due to weather or sea conditions, at San Francisco February 9th through 24th . The tow was met off Seattle in Elliot Bay by the Western Towboat tugs, Westrac and Mariner, which assisted the tow up the Duwamish Waterway to a dock owned by Alaska Marine Lines but leased by Konecranes.
   There the crane will be unloaded for final set-up work, testing and final inspection. Once that work is complete, the crane will be barged across Puget Sound to its final destination at the shipyard at Bremerton.
   Crane #70 is the first of six portal cranes that have approved under the 2019 U.S. Navy contract, which is valued at roughly $330 million. It is believed that the Navy has the option to order one more portal crane under the 2019 contract. The second crane that was approved (#P-82) was also completed in 2023 and is currently stored in Manitowoc, awaiting transport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. That tow is estimated to take four months.

[Boatnerd staff]

Memories of sailing for the Ford fleet featured at GLMI dinner April 12

   The Great Lakes Maritime Institute presents its annual dinner at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Featured speaker will be Greg Rudnick, who will talk about his time sailing on the Ford Motor Co. vessels Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. See the flyer posted in the gallery for details. Reservations required by March 31.
[You can see the billing for this in the gallery below]

Make your reservation for a stay on the City of Milwaukee today

It’s time to plan your summer getaway aboard the S.S. City of Milwaukee!
   Book a room and spend the night on a floating National Historic Landmark, then explore all six decks of this 95 year old railroad car ferry.
   Step back in time, experience Great Lakes history up close, and make it a stay you won’t forget.

See you aboard! Link to site;  https://www.carferry.com/boatel?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJgrxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJUOWJ6bVljek5zVE8wbVRrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp09bZhg2J1_QTU2qcbLcdS7M2ZwXeUqQneAsczgLqjpCmkQQBe_O6-SGKDp_aem_wHFOXWoMgm4wqI_FHzJTSw

Chance to win a trip on a lakes freighter