Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2026)

COVER FEATURE ike it or not, the maritime business has evolved from one dominated by tightly held, private, family owned operations to a more corporate approach, as regulatory demand and resultant

L skyrocketing cost for boats have priced many small- to mid-sized organizations out of the market.

The tugboat America itself, a vessel built 129-years ago and still operating faithfully on the Great Lakes, is owned by Maritime Partners via its acquisition of Great Lakes

Towing Company. And while Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III – a third-generation Great Lakes mariner – pointedly as- sesses the company’s new generation of Damen-built units as “those are some bad ass boats!”, Capt. LaMarre has an obvious passion for the tug America that is palpable, tran- scending the latest hulls and tech.

Rest assured there are plenty of historic tugboats around the Great Lakes, around the country and around the world; some beautifully restored; others awaiting the at- tention, money and expertise needed to bring them back to their former glory; many already serving a second life as razor blades or rebar.

Then, there is America.

Built in Buffalo, NY, in 1897, the tug remains an active member of the Great Lakes Towing Company