Boat blog: The G.L. Ostrander/Integrity unloads aggregate in Muskegon

November 6, 2025

This Great Lakes Boat Blog is presented by Safe Harbor Credit Union, 5511 W. US 10, Ludington; safeharborcu.org.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

MUSKEGON — The A.T.B. G.L. Ostrander/Integrity unloaded aggregate at the Muskegon Lafarge, 1047 7th St., along Muskegon Lake Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.

The articulated tug barge is operated by Andrie, Inc. of Muskegon for Amrize (formerly Holcim U.S.) of Chicago, according to the 2025 edition of the book “Know Your Ships.”

The G.L. Ostrander tug was built in 1976 for Andrew Martin Sea Service, Inc. of Thibodaux, La. by Halter Marine of Pierre Part, La. (near New Orleans) and was originally named the Andrew Martin.

According to tuboatinformation.com, in 1981, most of the vessel’s superstructure, pilothouse and upper machinery spaces were destroyed by a fire, laying up the tug’s haul for several years.

In 1990, she was acquired by Robert Torres of River Marine Contractors, Inc. of Paducah, Ken and renamed the Robert L. Torres. In 1991, she was re-powered. The original Stork-Werkspoor diesel engines were replaced by two Caterpillar 3608 diesel engines.

In 1993, she was acquired by the Jacklyn Shipping Co. of Tampa, Flax. and renamed the Jacklyn M.

LaFarge North America, Inc. of Chicago acquired the tug in 1996, retaining the name Jacklyn M. In 2002, she was renamed the G.L. Ostrander, named after LaFarge executive Gary L. Ostrander in honor of his retirement. The operation of the vessel was contracted to Andrie, Inc. of Muskegon. The tug was then outfitted with a Bludworth coupler system and re-powered with two EMD 645 E7B 20-cylinder diesel engines with a rated horsepower of 7,200 hp. The tug’s electrical service is provided by two 180 KW AC generators driven by Caterpillar 3306 engines.

The G.L. Ostrander is 140 feet long with a width of 40 feet and a depth of 22 feet.

The barge Integrity was built by Bay Shipbuilding Co. of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. in 1996 and is 460 feet long, 70 feet wide and has a depth of 37 feet. Combined the A.T.B. has a total length of 544 feet.

LaFarge North America is now part of Amrize, fromerly known as Holcim U.S.

Andrie, Inc. operates a fleet of multifaceted vessels on the Great Lakes including mostly tugs and barges. The company was founded in 1988 by the Andrie family.

 

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