Amoco Michigan {2} – Michigan {10}
1982-Present
Articulated Tugboat, Articouple Coupler; Paired with Barge Great Lakes {10}
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1982
Builder: Bay Shipbuilding Corp., Sturgeon Bay, WI
Hull #732
Registry: US 650770
IMO #8121795
Laid Down: 1982
Launch Date: 1982
Commissioned: September 1982
Paired Barges:
Construction
Michigan was constructed in 1982 as a tugboat by Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for Amoco Oil Company of Indiana. 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.
Modifications
- Retrofitted with an Articouple ATB Coupler, Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 2015.
General Stats
Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: 454′
Length Overall [Tug]: 107’08”
Breadth: 34′
Depth: 16′
Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: General Motors Electro Motive Division, Chicago, IL
Engine Model: 20-645-E6
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 3900 BHP
History
Lineage
Amoco Michigan {2} – 1982-1985
Owner: American Oil Co. of Indiana, Whiting, IN
Operator: American Oil Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Whiting, IN
Michigan – 1985-2010
Owner: Coastwise Trading Co., Chicago, IL
Operator: Keystone Shipping Inc., Bala Cynwyd, PA
Flag: United States
Home Port: Whiting, IN
*Not definite on owner/operator from 1985-2010 period. May include error
Michigan – 2010-2011
Owner: Chicago Marine Asset, Chicago, IL
Operator: Chicago Marine Asset
Flag: United States
Home Port: Whiting, IN
Michigan – 2011-Present
Owner: U.S. Oil, Inc., Appleton, WI
Operator: Andrie, Inc., Muskegon, MI
Flag: United States
Home Port: Whiting, IN
Her Story
Amoco Michigan was constructed in 1982 as a tugboat by Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for Amoco Oil Company of Indiana. 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.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on February 4, 2021
Gallery
Great Lakes / Michigan at Indiana Harbor, IN, July 28, 2006. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Great Lakes / Michigan at Indiana Harbor, IN, July 28, 2006. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Michigan / Great Lakes on Lake Huron, October 12, 2013. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Michigan / Great Lakes on the Detroit River, January 12, 2014. Photo by Isaac Pennock Michigan / Great Lakes docked at Sarnia, ON, December 18, 2019. Photo by Isaac Pennock 
Michigan / Great Lakes at Green Bay, Wisconsin, March 16, 2020. Photo by Isaac Pennock
Sources
Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2016, Harbor House Publishers, 2016. Pp. 6.19.
LeLievre, Roger. Know Your Ships 2020. Marine Publishing Company, 2020. Pp. 37.
Pennock, Isaac. “Michigan”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats. N.d. Accessed 3 February 2021. <https://gltugs.wordpress.com/michigan/>
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