Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The G-tugs in Duluth are laid up at this time, due to the shipping season being shut down. The Munson ran some extra charters and banked on Heritage Marine. It is unfortunate that there were some problems.

I wonder why Key Lakes doesn't ever use the G-Tugs for ice breaking. Those guys could break-out the Shipyard no problem; they have been doing it years. It probably comes down to price, but missing your drydock window comes at a cost too.

the munson wanted to get into the drydock but there was apparently a problem with tugs breaking the ice in the shipyard. The Coast Guard has broken ice into the shipyard but doesnt like to in heavy ice as they dont like backing into ice when they turn around. Not the greatest rudder design for backing into ice

The Alder wouldnt break into the shipyard and Heritage had some issues with tugs. She will lay up until spring and dock then.

The Coast Guard will only break Ice on the main run.(Or traffic lane)I may have named this wrong.They will not dig out a slip.That is not there duty.So the Shipping Company has to pay a private tug to get them into there unloading spot's.Or Shipyard.off the beatin path.

why didnt the munson go into the drydock? It appears they are docked at the Port Terminal dock and very little ice was broken into Fraser. As of 4 pm on the 25th the Munson was tied up at the Port Terminal just ahead of the Calumet Fuel dock and the ice breaking operations had ended and the tugs were tied up to their dock. Wonder who decided not to try to get it to Fraser.

Great Lakes Towing publishes their tariff on their website under Rates and Conditions

http://thegreatlakesgroup.com/wp-conten ... itions.pdf

Appendix 1 has their icebreaking rates;
$1650 per hour per tug (base rate) for companies without a contract with GLT,
$1176 per hour per tug (base rate) for companies that sign a contract to use GLT exclusively for tug services in GLT's area of operation.

These are the publicly published rates, they might also enter into agreements with other rates.

Moran, Foss and Crowley also publish tariffs but don't serve the lakes. Ocean Group (Canadian) mentions a tariff on their website but you must request a copy. The smaller tug companies probably negotiate a rate for each job. I'm not sure, but am wondering if published tariffs are some sort of requirement if you fall under federal (interstate) regulation.

The U.S. Coast Guard breaks ice for free but is under a directive to try and not compete with private tug companies. They also usually shut down at night while private tugs and the Canadian Coast Guard will work at night. If I recall correctly, the Canadian Coast Guard charges an annual ice breaking assistance fee to any Canadian ship sailing during a certain time frame.

johnny shunk wrote:the Munson could not make it into Fraser, too much ice!

Seeing the Munson still at the fuel dock more than 7 hours after she came into port, I was going to ask how long it takes to fuel one of those boats. I guess fueling time is not the issue in this case.

the Munson could not make it into Fraser, too much ice!

This has been asked in the past.1,500.00 and hour was once said.and there is a minimum of hours to go out.But breaking Ice beats these tugs to death.I have seen a picture of Franze helping the Presque Isle into one of the Garfield slips.Franze was ahead while the Presque Isle was inching ahead.Well the P I kept coming and popped the tug right on top of the ice.It could have popped it under the ice.Mary from the Marine musium has pictures.

I remember the question about the cost of ice work service by harbor tugs being asked before. Good answers are Al in Duluth for an approximate cost of $1000 per hour and Grizzly that some information is not, and should not, be public. There is a minimum charge when a crew is called for service. Usually 5 hours for in-harbor ice service and 12 hours outside of a harbor. Maybe, you know how many harbor tug hours were used times $1000 for the answer to your question for the ice service cost to get the Munson into winter lay-up at Fraser. A service call for ice work that isn’t covered by a contract can be 40% higher. For ports without tugs on station, a running charge can be added. Cancellations, tows, overtime can also be ice work charges.

Grizzly wrote: Great Lakes Fleet pays for it. They usually contract with Heritage Marine. They negotiate their contracts and that information is not public. Obviously it is in the thousands.

Heritage Marine usually charges several hundred dollars an hour, which is why Great Lakes Fleet uses them to keep costs down.

Guest wrote:Who pays the tugs running around the harbor breaking ice so that the munson can enter ? What do they charge ?

Great Lakes Fleet pays for it. They usually contract with Heritage Marine. They negotiate their contracts and that information is not public. Obviously it is in the thousands.

Tugs used for icebreaking are paid by the owner of the vessel or dock requesting the service. I haven't seen a tariff book in many years, but when I was in the newspaper business in the 1980s I recall that Great Lakes Towing charged $1,000 an hour for icebreaking.

Great Lakes Fleet pays. I have no idea what Heritage charges.

Who pays the tugs running around the harbor breaking ice so that the munson can enter ? What do they charge ?

The Alder has rounded the Keweenaw point ans is steaming towards Duluth at 15.2 knts. They are about 130nm out of Duluth, so it looks like the Munson will spend one more night on the hook.

Ice in the Superior front channel is about 28" thick as of tonight.

The Alder has showed back up on AIS. They are just out of Marquette, MI. heading north. Looks like they are on a course to round the tip of the Keweenaw.

The John G Munson is currently anchored just outside of the Duluth harbor. Word has it the ice in the harbor is too thick for the tugs to break and she has to wait for the Alder to get back.

If anyone else has more info, please post it.