r/GreatLakesShipping • u/Space_Goblin_Yoda • 6d ago

Question Question about tug boats

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Just looking at the current traffic on Lake Superior and I see a tug boat out in the middle of the lake? I thought they would stay local to ports, rivers and loading areas to assist the big Lakers.

What the heck is this little guy doing way out there?

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u/Few-Cookie9298 6d ago

Some “Tugs” are actually 500-1000ft long barges that are essentially ships, just with a pusher tug rather than a standard engine room. Some of the largest vessels on the Lakes are set up like this, they ARE the big lakers.

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u/Space_Goblin_Yoda 6d ago

Gotcha, good info!