September 25, 2016 How to Talk Tug

We have become so impressed with the authentic gentle spirit that emerges as the tug captains talk each other through tough situations. Remember that these professionals are responsible for a mega-tug, often 100 feet long, and an array of strings of barges... sometimes as many as 36-42. Not only is the contents of their barge tow worth alot, but these tug pilots have to maneuver through bridges and locks, around bends in the river and past other strings of tows night and day while maintaining speeds that get the job done in a reasonable length of time. Here are a few of those special conversations:

“I’m a single string of four. I’ll be meeting you on Hanging Dog Point. What do you need? Just tell me.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll put it on the clutch...you give ‘er hell... and you’ll make it through the corner. I’ll keep my eye on you and we’ll do whatever we need to do.”

“I ain’t blowin‘ no fish out of the water, so come on ahead. I’ll be out of your way by the time you get here.”

“I appreciate your patience.”  “You bet!”

“I need to know what you need me to do for you.”

Lock Tender: "I've got a set of 8 to come southbound" (8 tugs/tows... each taking at least an hour! ) Northbound tug captain: Agh! I've got a little bit of a wait then. I'll put it "on the hill".... (push the barge onto the shore) and I'll wait for your call.

The pilothouse on this one goes up and down so that they can go through low bridges

Red Flagged barges are carrying hazardous materials.....usually petroleum products

Loading mulch

Tugs help each other to get parked!

Some of these big boys have as much as 10000 horsepower

The tugs go 24-7 so have complete living quarters on board....

A tug in dry dock...water is added to.the red thing so that it  sinks. The tug now can drive in. The water is removed from the dry dock and it floats up with the tug inside. Now the workers can do repairs to the bottom of the tug.

The tow on the hill.....pushed on to the shore to wait

Created by Darcy O Campbell