Early on Friday morning, June 20, tugboats from Great Lakes Towing carried out a coordinated and successful operation to refloat the 9,000-ton foreign-flagged cargo vessel SUNNANVIK, which had run aground in the narrow mouth of the Cuyahoga River near the east bank of the Flats.
The vessel became stuck around 12:43 a.m., temporarily disrupting traffic in the channel. In response, the company dispatched two tugs: NEW YORK, commanded by Captain Tim Herrle, arrived at the scene around 2:30 a.m., followed by WISCONSIN, under Captain Brad Sheppard, who joined around 4:50 a.m. to provide additional support.
Drawing on their experience navigating the challenging conditions of the Cuyahoga River and the powerful capabilities of the tugs, the crews worked closely with the U.S. Coast Guard. By 6:00 a.m., SUNNANVIK was successfully refloated, allowing vessel traffic to resume and enabling the ship to safely continue its voyage.
The operation was highly praised by Coast Guard representatives, with one likening the tugs to “little muscle machines,” highlighting their strength and precision in difficult maritime situations.
“This is why we’re here,” said Gregg Thauvette, Executive Vice President of Operations at The Great Lakes Towing Company. “Our crews and vessels are ready — even when you don’t expect to need us. We’re prepared to respond at any time to keep the waterways safe and open.”
No injuries or pollution were reported. After a brief inspection of the vessel and surrounding area, SUNNANVIK was cleared to proceed on its voyage.
