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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.

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Tugboat's new life as a reef

View this YouTube video taken on a dive in Curacao which shows the final resting place of an old tugboat.

Lighthouse Keeper |08:17 EST |Comments (0)

Panama Canal Tugs go Z-Tech

With the introduction of three new Z-Tech tugboats, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) introduces the most powerful tugs in its history. (you can read the complete article: Panama Canal Tugs go Z-Tech )

Each Z-Tech tug measures 89.8 ft. in length overall and 38.22 ft. in beam, with a bollard pull of 61 tons.

Additionally, the engines of the new tugboats have the capacity to accelerate from standstill to full ahead in less than 20 seconds, without heavy smoking.

Lighthouse Keeper |16:52 EST |Comments (0)

Restless Upbound

  

This is the next part of Capt Roland Shchultz journals of Tug Restless doing the loop.

Nearing Hilton Head, I make the decision to play the true part of a Gentleman Yachtsmen and spend the night at Harbour Town Yacht Basin. This is a bit of a radical departure from my normal first impression, of appearing as a Wharf Rat off a tug pulling barges from Valparaiso, Chile to Halifax on the Nitrates Run. Phoning ahead to make a reservation is actually more for reason of convincing myself that they will bother with 38 feet of boat, than availability. After being assured that they do and that space is available, I announce my presence to their dock master approximately one hour later, just off the entrance to the harbor. A rigid inflatable is promptly dispatched to act as my pilot to the assigned slip and after securing, I am presented with a complementary bottle of wine. I cringe at the thought of what I have gotten myself into at this point and consider what this stay among the heavy weights is going to cost. This is one very first class operation, having Restaurants, Bars, Shops, Pool, Tennis Courts and Golf Courses. The tab leaves me a bit dumbfounded. At $2/ ft per night as a transient and $20/ ft monthly, I'm asking myself why in the hell I haven't shown up here a long time ago. You might not want to loiter around into April however, after the first of the month the rate increases to $80/ ft monthly.Leaving Charleston, SC The morning of March 27, I find myself astern of two trawlers who are actually traveling slower than myself. I am unaware at the time that they are traveling as a pair and after passing the first of the two, slowly close the distance on the lead boat.When having a boat ahead of you breaking trail, one tends to become complacent. There is a feeling of letting them do the navigating and you following in their wake. Any hazard or mistake will be transmitted to you in relationship to speed and distance of separation. There is some truth to this theory, provided you are aware of the draft of the vessel and the competence of her navigator.

Near Copahee Sound, the markers are somewhat misleading during this rather straight section of the ICW, giving the impression of a very broad channel. At low water however it is more important to navigate by contour of the bottom, than course and position in relationship to its markers. The tide is now nearly slack and will be at low water within the next 30 minutes. The trawler ahead, is holding a course far to the green side of the channel and while I m certain that my draft at 5 feet exceeds his, I have pretty much divorced myself of his maneuvering. Although my multifunction display allows the screen to be sectioned. it does not allow the GPS Chart function to be enlarged sufficiently when Depth is additionally displayed. Instead I switch back and forth between the two full screens continuously. Depth is averaging between 1.8 and 3 feet beneath the keel and I constantly find myself shifting into neutral when observing a shelving trend as I “S” turn about this section of the channel seeking deep water at minimum speed. Off to Starboard, the lead trawler is pulling ahead and I am starting to question what he knows that I don't. Either he has Forward Looking Sonar, or he is about to find the bottom real quick.

The latter proves true in short order. Within minutes I hear him hailing the other boat on channel 16 and switch over to listen. He is hard aground and unable to move even a fraction in any direction on a muck bottom. Efforts by the other boat to lift him off by passing abeam throwing a wake, accomplished nothing. I desist from offering my services to bringing a Title Wave to the area, on the basis that these guys seem too nice to be put further in harms way. Their conversation revels that they are unaware of what the tide is doing and soon are discussing a plan to call Boat U S, for the purpose of being pulled off. This prompt's me to interrupt their conversation with my identity and presence, making the suggestion that they just sit tight to await the flood and avoid having a cleat pulled out of their deck. The skipper of the grounded boat now shows an interest in my tug, asking various questions regarding its age, construction and design. As I sign off, his last comment is “Yeah, had I not been paying so much attention to all that fancy rope work you have and been watching where I was going, I'd probably not have run aground.” So with the next publishing of the Mid Atlantic Waterway Guide don't be overly surprised should you read something like “Mile: 452 455, to Tricky Spot #115, North of Day marker Deep Water Location, Disguised by Tug Boat. Rumor has it that the USCG reported vessel no longer exists in this area.”

Photos above are view from the wheelhouse of Restless.

Capt Bob |11:20 EST |Comments (0)

Tug Restless Upbound

This Picture has tug Restless doing Warp speed with Lady Marion I at the 2006 Parry Sound Tugfest.

Capt Roland Shultz, has been giving us a journal on his trip around the loop with Tug Restless. After spending some time in St Augustine, doing miner repairs he now continues his journey upbound.

Capt Roland wrote:

As you head north from St. Augustine, height of the tides and currents require greater attention. Their action, with extreme winds and lunar cycles, shift inlets and enhance the affect of shoaling, which makes the latest copy of your Waterway Guide, that you purchased just the day before, very much "Yesterday's News.” Reading this “Novel” is enough at times to make you want to anchor and await the next Lunar High Tide, or perhaps have a crewmember forward, swinging a lead line while you maintain a speed just sufficient enough to maintain minimum steerage.

Near the Submarine base at Kings Bay, GA you'll note such insightful details as “There is a tricky spot in the ICW channel just South of Green Day beacon #75”. If Chapman were alive today to read such rubbish, he 'd suffer from Appaplexity.

Another piece of significant nothing, nearing Savannah reads; “In April 2006, the least depth observed there by carefully following the then marked channel was 5.3 feet at mean low water, this could change at anytime. There have been rumors; that the Coast Guard may remove all markers from this channel.”

With Jacksonville left astern March 22, the ICW takes on a whole new character with open sounds and marsh bordered wide rivers and creeks. In many ways it is reminsicent of the St. Clair Flats and the Canal about Round near Algonac Michigan. A sudden moderating in dock fees and fuel prices, is also an indication that you have crossed the line into Georgia.

Leaving Beaufort, SC. Downtown Marina on March 26th, I attempt to get a head start on things by leaving shortly after daybreak. Three hours later I am overtaken by a small Flotilla of cruisers who appear to be Hell bent on getting out of Dodge . At my steady 8 knots I'm passed on both sides at once, and feel like the preverbal “Willie Coyote ,” as one of the occupants waives to me in a manner of “Bye” rather than that of a “Hello”. Thirty minutes later at (tug speed) I round the marker to enter Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff Canal, and am blocked by what appears as a Squadron of Confederate Gunboats blocking a Union Vessel. In an effort to sort things out, I ring up stop and reach for the Binoculars As near as I can figure, the lead boat of the Flotilla that has passed me earlier, has misjudged his 30 knot radius of turn into the entrance, and made himself a monument until the next high tide. His confederates are milling about at idle speed in circles, and as I inch forward towards the cut, I am hailed on Channel #16. The request, that follows, is to kick Restless in the rear, and provide a suitable wave in passing, to float him clear.

Initially I consider the signing of a standard, “Lloyds Form” might be in order and then think: “What the Hell, I owe you guys one!”. The thought brings a smile to my face. “For what you are about to receive, may you be eternally grateful”.

Normally I reserve usage of the Hyper Drive aboard Restless, only for the Tug Boat Races. During such brief moments of near self destruction, things get rather ugly. With the throttle fire walled she pushes herself to a breathtaking 10 knots. In doing so however. her counter digs a hole in the water and the bow starts to rise as if trying to get up on the plane. An unusual attitude for a Displacement Hull. From her stack, a continuous plume of black smoke trails.... the first indication of bending doom.

For me, the event was fun, for everyone else, I'm still uncertain. With the Tsunami that I was dragging astern, there is a good chance this location on the chart maybe renamed “Point of Arks.” I didn t stop. When you're cruising at only 8 knots you can't loiter around much when passage making.

Capt Bob |18:04 EST |Comments (0)

Sir William Alexander

  

More awesome pictures of the CCGS william Alexander on a rescue mission off the East Coast.

As you can see ice is a problem, the crew break it off with wooden mallets.

Pictures sent to us by Roger Read.

Capt Bob |07:17 EST |Comments (0)

Coast Guard Maritime

  

"Roger Read Wrote"

Here are some pictures taken from the Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander.

These pictures where taken during the search for the fishing boat "LE Loda Cash" which went down in the Bay of Fundy several weeks ago.

It is thought the weight of ice buildup may be what sank  the fishing boat.

Looking at these pictures of the Coast Guard Ship, you can understand why .... a tragic even, but awesome pictures.

Capt Bob |10:28 EST |Comments (0)

More Sir William

  

Awesome pictures of ice buildup on the CCGS Sir William Alexander.

From Roger Read. 

Capt Bob |10:28 EST |Comments (0)

More On Restless Heading Home

Secound Part of Heading Home

Returning to St Augustine approximately a week prior to scheduled launch for the purpose of performing minor maintenance and painting, I would find Restless flanked by two rather interesting nautical “Projects ” that had been moved into position during my absence. To Starboard a twin engine cruiser is having four very large holes in her bottom being patched as a result of the rudders and struts being pushed thru the hull. It seems the owner failed to consider the results of leaving his boat in a shallow water slip with the tide on the Ebb. To Port, a very intrepid young woman is teaching herself fiberglass repair and doing a very impressive job, after having had a collision with a container ship at night in the fog, while sailing alone near the Turks Caicos Islands. Her tale of the incident becomes humorous as she describes how her boat skidded down the side of the ship with its crew oblivious to her presence. After yelling “Mayday” on channel 16 for nearly five minutes to get their attention, someone on the bridge with a limited vocabulary of the English language finally responded while the Captain of the ship was rousted from the rack. Initially her description of what had just taken place being viewed as a hoax by the crew. As luck would have it, the shipping company to which the ship was titled had recently briefed the captain of possible Pirate Activities in that area of the ocean and frequent drills to “Repel Boarders ” had been preformed during the voyage pervious to the incident. As if taking on copious amounts of water from having her hull cracked was not enough, she had it raining down on her from above as well.

I carry a mountain bike aboard Restless, which is usually secured horizontally to a rectangular cork style life raft of the type used aboard WWII Liberty Ships (we re talking vintage again) atop the wheelhouse. It affords me some mobility when I m in port and provides a limited cargo carrying ability with a detachable basket. With the need of bottom paint, during my minor refit while in the yard, I make the trip to the local West Marine in St Augustine, fully aware that the transport of such might be taxing the limits of its design. All goes well during my return, until crossing an intersection of a residential street from my right. With a car approaching its stop sign and my presence already leaving the curb 90 degrees to it, I figure the rate of closure and present course and speed of both vehicles is sufficient for me to cross ahead of, provided she recognize being the burden vessel with the presence of a sign bearing an octagon shape red in color with the words “ STOP ” depicted in white, is heeded. Normally, I would altered course to pass well astern in such crossing situations, however the indications of subject vehicle slowing and the operator looking directly at me, convinces me that my passage is secure. As the bearing on the bow decreases, I observe the person at the helm having her hand up near her head (The Green Side) and realize that she is using a cell phone and that Newton s First Law of Motion is about to be put to the test. She does not stop!

To avoid becoming a new fixture on her car's hood, I lock my brakes resulting in a summersault over the handlebars. The gallon of bottom paint lands on its top edge, breaking free its lid and pouring out into the street creating a large puddle of blue. Cars driving thru it redraw the centerline of the road with tire . As a result of the crown to the pavement, the contents of the can flows off into the grass. This area soon to be designated a “Toxic Waste Site” to be free of all weeds and various other such growths for at least the next Fifty years. Returning to West Marine the following day, having dumped over a hundred dollars of weed killer on the lawn, black and bruised and still wearing “War Paint”, the fellow behind the counter recognizes me and remarks, “Run out of Paint Already?” “Nah just a little touching up.”

Capt Bob |13:40 EST |Comments (0)

Tug Restless Heading Home

I put in the call to see where Capt Roland was, this was his answer.

In mid January, it was necessary to take a break from the trip and head home for the purpose of getting taxes done, paperwork and a physical, which included a Colonoscopy that had been scheduled some months previous. For some reason doctors view a “Full Moon ” different from everyone else in the world and I can assure you that their observations have nothing to do with its affect upon the Tide.

Doing the Loop is in deed a long trip. It is not unusual to see boats and their crew several times during its transit in marinas or while underway, that you initially passed months earlier. Keep this in mind in the event you have, bluffed someone over the Rules of the Road somewhere on the ICW, as a result of the size of your boat. It can come back to haunt you.

As I write this very article, while tied to the dock in Charleston SC, I was approached only minutes ago by a couple stating “We owe you an apology. We've passed you a couple times on the Intracoastal (who hasn't) and rocked you pretty bad. I wish we had checked our speed better”.

Many a boater that I have met doing this trip, has spread it out and done it in stages. Leaving the boat in either dry or wet storage at various points and gone home for a multitude of reasons. For those who do this trip in something less than a mega yacht, walking into the front door of your home after several months living aboard a floating Winnebago may come as somewhat of a surprise. The square footage of your house seems to have suddenly doubled.

On the16th of January, Restless is hauled at Oasis Boatyard in St Augustine FL. The choice of this yard is for a host of reasons. In addition to being a full service yard it allows owners to perform their own maintenance (including bottom painting), allow living aboard while on the hard and provides 24 hour gated security.

Boatyards have always provided me with an interest and curiosity since I was a kid. Many a day has been spent roaming about their interior, some having been with less than an honest means of entry. Each has had its own section that has been turned into a bone yard, where wooden hulls are left abandon and await the final match. Steel hulls rust away and become derelicts to be turned eventually into razorblades and those of fiberglass, that have hulls cracked like eggs, recycled into Clorox Bottles. Yards on the ocean seem to have a certain “Saltiness” for reasons other than Sodium Chloride in the water. Here there tends to be a more varied display of size, type, damages and the tales that go with them. (to be continued)

Capt Bob |20:47 EST |Comments (0)

 

 

 

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