TUGFEST weblog
The Tugfest blog 
is an international maritime enthusiasts news weblog. Articles that are posted here include news about the annual tugboat festival (read the festival), photo essays, world tugboat news, events and other general maritime news related to the great lakes and beyond. Have news to share? Simply click here - if it floats - we'll post it for you.
Hudson in the Fall:
Tug Cheyanne, towing a barge of scrap cars on the Hudson. A VonRiedal photo Nov 05.
Capt Bob |08:50 EST |Comments (0)
Tug Ben Elliot:
A pretty picture, of the Ben Elliot in Troy NY. Photo by VonReidel of tugboat group @ yahoo.
Capt Bob |08:53 EST |Comments (0)
One More Toy:
Well here is just one more for the Groves Marine Fleet. Capt Paul Groves with Capt Jack Kennedy looking over a model of the Algorail, a great lakes self unloader. She's a fine looking model but just to big for the bath tub, maybe a indoor pool would work. Just think of the fun we could have sitting by the pool watching the Groves fleet go by. There might be a little rum, and we could throw in some diesel just for the aroma's." Honest Bunny No More"
Capt Bob |09:33 EST |Comments (0)
Classic Engines;
If you are interested in seeing some real classic engines, steam, diesal or gas, I have just the place. This photo of a Biauwe Deutz, is a good example of what you will see. Go to links on this site and click on www.tugboat.ni, they have a lot of tug pictures as well, they call them Sleepboots have fun.
Capt Bob |09:28 EST |Comments (0)
A Wanabee:
This little guy is part of the Great Tug Race Sault Ste. Marie Ont. It pulls a couple of barrels on wheels with soft drinks in them. What a fun way to raise money for Challenged Children, the charity for this event. All you need is a good used ATV and some imagination. You also need a big heart and they have that in the Soo.
Capt Bob |22:10 EST |Comments (0)
End of the season:
The sand-sucker John R. Emery leaving barge canal in lock #2 pushed by the Tug Margot. This was the last ship of the year out of Lake Erie. Photo by tugwaterford@aol.com
Capt Bob |15:32 EST |Comments (0)
Wintering in the Harbour:
Tugs Mummery & Grandpas Dream, wintering at the mouth of the Sequin River in Parry Sound Harbour. There is always a current there, so a safe place to winter. Mummery is owned by Capt Brain Kennedy & Grandpas Dream is owned by Gord Martin. The Mummery was in the 2005 Tugfest and can be seen on the 2005 photos.
Capt Bob |10:05 EST |Comments (0)
Aruba Container Ship:
Now this should get the big container boys worried. You don't need a big crew or a large container dock. I would guess a crew of two, lookout and helmsman. At the other end maybe a boat-ramp and a easy load trailer with a 3/4 ton pickup. And best of all there is room for some passengers. I see a franchise opportunity here, a low budget operation. Got to go now, I need to see the bank manager. ( I've seen it all now.) Picked this up on Yahoo Tugboat-news, a great site.
Capt Bob |16:05 EST |Comments (0)
First Snow:
Tugs are put to bed for the long winter. Our first snow is on the ground. In this picture you can see Trimac, Andarlin & the Cambrain with the Inland Queen in the background. The Mink Isle is tucked on the inside. Location Parry Sound Town Dock, a safe place for the winter. More pictures on 2005 photo's.
Capt Bob |11:34 EST |Comments (0)
Tug Tenacious:
This photo was taken on the barge canal (Waterford Flight). Notice the low profile. Photo from tugwaterford.
Capt Bob |09:33 EST |Comments (0)
Tug Gail:
A fixer upper, Tug Gail picture taken in Bay City Mi. Built in Cleveland OH in 1891 as the Cisco. The new owner is working on the machinery at the moment. It will be interesting to see what develops. Other pictures on "your photo's"on this site. This info came from tugboatnews on Yahoo, check it out. I found some interesting articals on this site. Pictures by Adam Eickholt.
Capt Bob |10:21 EST |Comments (0)
Sign of the times:
The sun sets on another season of cruising around the Bay. We had a great season with Tugfest Parry Sound & Great Tug Races in Sault Ste Marie. A lot of fun was had by the participants as well as the viewing public. We still have a lot of pictures to show you but I would like to hear from you. In order to keep the site interesting we would like Tug related stories or maybe a picture of your project boat. How about sharing some of your experiences on the Great Lakes with us. We would also welcome our viewers from around the world to share some of their tug stories with us. We at Tugfest.net thank you for your interest in the site. It gives us the incentive to make it even better along with your input. I am sure there are some interesting storys or pictures that we can all share.
Capt Bob |21:25 EST |Comments (0)
Rush Minute:
Every year the boys bring out the toys to play on the Detroit River. Not a good day for Kayaking, going by the picture. This will be there 29th year for this event, it is impressive. Go to our links and click on "The International Tugboat Race" on the Detroit River. There are lots of action shots and other items of interest. You will not be disappointed.
Capt Bob |23:00 EST |Comments (0)
Tug Carla Anne Selvick:
This is the Tug picture of the week, from Scott Best of Boatnerds. This is a great site to tour with lots of pictures of ships & tugs of the great lakes. You will enjoy this site, sign up for the newsletter. The Carla Anne is 97 years young and still working, she looks good for her years. Go to Links and click on Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping. Make sure all your chores are done, you can get wrapped up in this site.
Capt Bob |11:30 EST |Comments (0)
Tug Glyn Bird:
This month we will be featuring some of our links. First is the New Zealand Tug & Work-boats site, an excellent site by Russell Ward. The Tug Glyn Bird is Russell's passion. He has done a superb job restoring her. You can see before and after pictures as well as her history. Check this site out and see how they do things down under. If you get a warm feeling on this site it's because it's spring time for them.
Capt Bob |19:34 EST |Comments (0)
Mystery Ship:
Postcard Description: Coloured postcard of a freighter and some of her crew tied up along the wharf in Owen Sound towards the end of the season. This is a photo from the turn of the century, I found this site interesting. Check it out. Go to www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/HomePort.asp
Capt Bob |08:49 EST |Comments (0)
Spirit of Ontario:
Losses flood Toronto-Rochester ferry Source: THE TORONTO STAR Byline: John Goddard Date: 10/27/2005 Passenger numbers jumped in August, but the Rochester-Toronto ferry still lost $4.2 million (U.S.) in its first two months back in service. Ridership on crossings between the Lake Ontario cities rose to 402 per trip in August on average from 239 in July, the Rochester Ferry Co. said yesterday. Total passenger figures rose to 45,811 in August from 26,320 during the ferry's first full month of operation in July. Increased tour bus traffic has helped the trend, said Michael Riehl, manager of the International Marine Passenger Terminal on the Toronto side. "On Saturday mornings, usually two to four buses leave from Toronto heading south," he said. The 774-seat ferry had been projected to lose around $700,000 in startup and operating costs this year. But startup expenses alone ate up $2 million and operating losses through August totalled $2.2 million, Rochester Ferry Co. reported, blaming mainly a slow start in ridership. The city of Rochester, which owns the ferry, has an $8 million cushion set aside for projected deficits through 2007. The giant car-and-passenger ferry, Spirit of Ontario, moves across the lake at 80 km/h and completes a one-way trip in 2 hours and 30 minutes. A car trip around the lake can take three to four hours - longer when traffic is tied up at the border. Rochester Mayor William Johnson said he plans trips shortly to Toronto; the New York state capital, Albany; and possibly Ottawa to persuade tourism departments to dedicate promotional funds toward the ferry. He is retiring as mayor but said he would make the trip with his successor after the Nov. 8 election. "Much of our dollars this year were devoted to operations," Johnson said in a telephone interview. "We had a very lean marketing budget and we need to increase that exponentially." The ferry was launched in the spring of 2004 and sailed for 80 days before shutting down that September with $1.7 million in debt. The city of Rochester bought the boat in February and relaunched it June 30.
Capt Bob |18:59 EST |Comments (0)
Capt Bob |18:57 EST |Comments (0)
Theodore Too:
Murphy seeks help to float Theodore bid By Chris Lamble - The Daily News Theodore Too's big red cap is already out for donations before a deal is finalized that would see the lifesize TV replica ferrying tourist around the Big Harbour. Local businessman Peter Murphy, who has until the end of May to buy Theodore, is looking for local companies to sponsor the tugboat. " As you can appreciate, it's a very big purchase, " Murphy said. He hopes to use the boat to take people on hour-long harbour tours. But the boat needs " an extensive amount of work " to bring it up to Transport Canada specifications for carrying passengers, Murphy said. " If we don't do this, there's a very good chance that she's going to Boston or another port outside of the region, " he said. " So we're asking, basically, to get some corporate help." Besides buying books of 50 tickets for $1,000, Murphy said six companies can also sign-on as " pioneer sponsors. " For an undisclosed fee, they'll get a brass plaque on Theodore and the tug's services for corporate and charity functions. All the assets of Theodore Tugboat creator Cochran Communications Inc. and its subsidiaries went up for sale after the companies went into receivership last April, owing more than $10 million. Senholt Environment Services of Saint John, N.B., originally made the highest bid to buy the tug last fall. But after a full marine survey, Senholt decided it would cost too much to refit the tug to carry passengers. Murphy - who's also hoping to take the tug on tours of the Eastern Seaboard - won't say how much he's paying for Theodore, other than it's less than the $800,000 Senholt offered. He took the controls yesterday as the tug steamed from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron to Cable Wharf in front of Murphy's on the Water. On the way, Theodore met the first cruise ship to visit the port this year, the Norwegian Sea. " The eyes were moving, the horn was going, people were laughing and waving on the deck, " he said," It was great. "
Capt Bob |12:13 EST |Comments (0)
The Great Tug Race:
An international event on the St Mary's River with participents from both Sault St Marie Ont. & Sault Michigan USA. This was the 24th year for the event and going strong. In this photo the tugs are going up bound in the Canadian locks. They will return through the American locks. The rule book takes a beating this day and the lock master gets a little greyer but everyone has a great time. Check out our links for more on the Great Tug Race and take a peek at their history.
Capt Bob |07:47 EST |Comments (0)
United States
Canada
Japan
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Germany
France
Australia
Spain
Italy
