The American Tugboat Company was founded at Everett, Washington by local shingle mill owner David A. Clough and Captain Harry Ramwell. The company provided log raft towing services throughout the Puget Sound region.
In 1973, the American Tugboat Company was acquired by the Crowley Launch and Tugboat Company of San Francisco, California, and merged into their subsidiary operation, the Puget Sound Tug and Barge Company of Seattle, Washington.