The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT), known for its specialized marine services, is introducing a Jones Act compliant breakbulk service from Fernandina Beach, FL to San Juan, Puerto Rico. GLT acquired the 5,800 M/T cargo deadweight capacity, fully enclosed warehouse barge “Crimson Clover” from Crimson Shipping and established a new operating company named Great Lakes East, LLC (GLE). GLE will operate a domestic and international marine transportation service that revives Crimson Shipping’s former business based out of Mobile, AL. However, GLE will load out of the Port of Fernandina Beach.
GLE is a US Flag, Jones Act compliant ocean freight carrier specializing in breakbulk commodities such as paper, lumber, steel, and other products with RORO cargo capabilities facilitated by the barge’s self-loading/unloading side ramp configuration. The Caribbean Breakbulk Service offers regular service to San Juan and can call on neighboring islands and other ports in the Central Caribbean basin on inducement.
“Shippers in the domestic trade expressed the need for a breakbulk conveyance alternative to move forest and steel products in the Puerto Rico trade and we responded with a proven solution,” said Joe Starck, President of The Great Lakes Towing Company. GLE’s maiden voyage is scheduled to depart Fernandina Beach on July 3, 2024. GLE is actively taking orders and receiving cargo at Fernandina.
GLE has partnered with top-tier terminal operators in the Port of Fernandina and San Juan to handle weather-sensitive cargo in on-dock warehouses. The company aims to leverage last-mile on-dock rail in Fernandina and utilize a strategic loading port easily accessible from Northeast Florida’s main highways.
