The result was keep. John254 00:38, 11 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
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Organisation which doesn't quite meet the notability guidelines, I don't think. We don't as a rule have articles on the tug companies in Dartmouth, Dover or Antwerp. I'm also concerned that there may be a hint of vanity in the article being created. Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry 16:20, 6 August 2007 (UTC)
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Keep To start, I am bias because I am the primary contributor to this site. However, I believe The Great Lakes Group does meet the notability guidelines. The Great Lakes Towing Company is currently in its 109th year of operation which was started by John D. Rockefeller and other notable industrialists. Further, it is the largest tugboat company operating on the Great Lakes and everyone in the maritime industry knows about “The Towing Company.” This Wikipedia site was created after hearing about several requests for it to be created. To address the comment about the lack of other tugboat companies in Wikipedia; Wikipedia currently has a site for Crowley, Foss, and Seabulk (all tug companies), the site also hosts other maritime companies which The Great Lakes Group does business with including Maersk, Canadian Steamship Lines, and the Mathur Museum. Finally, in regard to the comment “there may be a hint of vanity in the article”, I agree to an extent, however, I am trying to clean it up. With some time, I believe The Great Lakes Group article will be a great asset and notable addition to the Wikipedia site. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 165.236.0.82 (talk • contribs)
Keep I have been watching the creation of this article closely as I am very excited about its creation. I do not believe it should be deleted as everyone in the maritime industry knows The Great Lakes Towing Company (The Great Lakes Group). It should be noted that Wikipedia has articles about Z-drive tugs, while Tugz Internation was the first Company in the United States to build and operated Z-drive tugs. I would think if Z-drive tugs is worthy of an article, the first company to build Z-drive tugs in the United States would also be worthy of an article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by User:R.Ocasio (talk • contribs)
Keep The maritime industry is often the forgotten industry. Everyone must remember that almost everything that you use day-to-day was on a ship or barge at one time or another. The Great Lakes Group does barging and tows these ships that transport everything from clothing to cement. If it was not for The Great Lakes Towing Company, massive amounts of cargo would not reach the people and industries in the Midwest and there would be billion ($) lost. I have not personally contributed to this article yet, but I have been watching its evolution and would like to see more. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.191.125.253 (talk • contribs)
Keep – And for the group above…how about cutting down our comments and expressing a definite keep or delete rather than editorializing that never gives a definitive answer. Shoessss | Chat 18:35, 6 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Keep This is a category of industry that is underrepresented in Wikipedia. It is difficult to make an assertion of notability in these cases largely because press coverage tends to be confined to industry publications or incidental mention in the context of a maritime disaster. The most similar article I can find here is Smit International, which has conducted a number of high-profile towing and salvage operations - and that's no more than a stub. GLG could be condensed, but it is sourced - the Detroit Free Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and New York Times certainly qualify. Acroterion (talk) 21:20, 6 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Keep I saw their coverage in the New York Times and see them all the time in the trade journals, definitely a notable company/article24.239.61.15 14:56, 7 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Keep They seem to have a near-monopoly on tugboat operations on the Great Lakes. That's important business. The fact that this is a privately held company means it won't have some of the coverage that is typically found for publicly traded companies. Don't delete them for being privately held.--orlady 05:34, 8 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Keep The Great Lakes ARE special to the many people who live here and love the ships, the crews and shipping in general that goes on around us every day. The Great Lakes Towing Company is a notable player in the marine industry in our area. Keep this article please. 69.216.168.1 14:29, 8 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Keep Truthfully, I'm slightly taken aback at the statement that the Great Lakes aren't that important. Not only do they hold 20% of the world's fresh water, they facilite a robust shipping economy between the east coast ocean ports and the bulk of the United States, especially the industrial sector. But, I digress. To the task at hand. The Great Lakes Towing Company, even if it weren't the most prevelant maritime towing establishment, is still notable enough to be worth mention on Wikipedia. Towing is a huge part of maritime shipping. Getting finished goods and raw materials from place to place efficiently is of great importance to the economic success or failure of a region. Without tow boats, barges and freighters which carry many different raw materials for industries along the Great Lakes could not deliver their cargo. I understand a lot of modern ships are equipped with bow thrusters, which allow them to manuever more efficiently, but even these boats need a push or a tow once in a while. Since it has been addressed, let's put the history of the company aside and focus on what ways this company works to keep the American economy moving. Taking a purely economical standpoint, this article, though it needs much attention and editing, is worth keeping. 84.115.137.214 15:46, 8 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]