Sunday tug traffic in the Port of Ludington

The tug/barge Candice Elise/Robert F. Deegan, left, and tug Madison R leave the Ludington channel Sunday.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

LUDINGTON — Two tugboats departed the Ludington channel Sunday afternoon, with one continuing its voyage while the other briefly exited before returning.

The tug-and-barge combination Candice Elise and Robert F. Deegan left the OxyChem dock en route to Johnstown, Ontario, on the St. Lawrence River. The vessel makes frequent calls to OxyChem’s Ludington plant as part of its regular bulk cargo operations.

The tug Madison R also exited the channel but returned a short time later. It is currently docked at the Rieth-Riley facility along with two other tugs, including the Justin Avery.

The Candice Elise is 100 feet long, 32 feet wide, with a depth of 14 feet, 8 inches. It is owned by Ashton Marine Co. of North Muskegon (ashtontugs.com). The tug was built in 1981 by Modern Marine Power Inc., Houma, Louisiana, as Perseverance. It was renamed Mr. Bill G. in 1983, El Rhino Grande in 1990, Stephen Dann in 1997 and Candice Elise in 2015.

Its propulsion is powered by two Caterpillar 3512 TA diesel engines rated at 2,600 horsepower.

The Robert F. Deegan was built in 1968 by Wyatt Industries, Houston, Texas. It is 225 feet long, 60 feet wide, with a depth of 4 feet. It is owned by USS Great Lakes LLC of New York.

The Madison R is owned by Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. of Mount Clemens. It was built in 1958 by Gulfport Shipbuilding of Port Arthur, Texas. At 103 feet long and 26 feet wide, the tug has a depth of 12 feet.

Originally configured as a Gulf Coast tug, it was named Gatco Alabama from 1958 to 1977. In 1977, it was acquired by SeaBulk Towing Services of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and renamed Ares, operating in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. In 2009, it was purchased by Heritage Marine of Two Harbors, Minnesota, and renamed Nels J. The vessel was modified for Great Lakes service, including a reinforced bow for icebreaking and installation of a bow thruster, and repowered with an EMD engine rated at 2,200 horsepower. In 2017, Dean Marine & Excavating acquired the vessel and renamed it Madison R.

Dean Marine & Excavating was incorporated in 2000 and operates a fleet of six tugs: Madison R, Ann Marie, Kimberly Anne, Megan J., ST-911 Enduring Freedom and West Wind. The fleet supports construction logistics, harbor and project towing, and salvage and emergency operations.

Ashton Marine Co., founded in 2015, operates two tugs: Candice Elise and Meredith Ashton.

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