Ice Breaking

The Great Lakes Towing Company's tugs are available to perform commercial ice breaking services each Winter Season. 

 

The Towing Company's policy has been to defer all ice work required in Federal Channels or shipping lanes to the Coast Guard's ice breaking vessels if they are available, however, we are available to perform such work if the Coast Guard is not available, as well as to perform commercial ice breaking services and vessel assistance in the above locations.

 

Our tugs are capable of breaking ice up to three feet thick and windrows up to four to six feet high, primarily at specific docks within harbors.  However, we have been called upon on various occasions to provide icebreaking services in other areas, such as in the lakes when the Coast Guard vessels are not available.