Defiance

Photo by Ron Bialecki

This large articulated tug was built in 1982 by Marinette Marine of Marinette, WI as the April T. Beker for Beker Transportation of Tampa, FL. Upon completion, the April T. Beker was paired with the new barge Erol T. Beker and operated on the Gulf of Mexico out of Tampa. In 1987, the pair was acquired by Gulfcoast Transit Company of Tampa. The tug was renamed Beverly Anderson and the barge became Mary Turner. In 2002, the company name was changed to TECO Ocean Shipping. In 2007, the Anderson and Turner were purchased by U.S. United Ocean Services, who retained the names and kept the pair on the same route out of Tampa. That year, they were upgraded with a new Bludworth coupler system to mate them as an articulated pair. In 2011, The pair was sold to Grand River Navigation of Traverse City, MI. They sailed to the Great Lakes and underwent a major refit at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, WI for most of 2012 before entering service late in the year. The Beverly Anderson was renamed Defiance, while the barge Mary Turner was re-christened as Ashtabula.

The Defiance and Ashtabula work from Lake Superior to Lake Erie in the stone, sand, salt, and coal trades for Grand River Navigation.

• Type: Twin Screw Articulated Tugboat
• Year Built: 1982
• Builder: Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WI
• Hull No: 8271
• Engines: 2 EMD 20-645-E7
• Horsepower: 7,200 bhp
• Length: 145′ 01″
• Breadth: 44′ 00″
• Depth: 21′ 00″
• Port of Registry: Cleveland, OH

Scott Best

Ron Bialecki

Isaac Pennock

Todd Shorkey

Isaac Pennock

Todd Shorkey

Isaac Pennock

Ron Bialecki

Isaac Pennock

Todd Shorkey

Isaac Pennock

Todd Shorkey