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.
Big and Little
Tug Prescotont and Scuffy where in the same heat at the 2007 Parry Sound Tugfest. You would hardly think this would be a contest, put they where paired up by HP not length. All in the spirt of good fun and what a great picture. Scuffy looks like an escort for the Prescotont rather then a competitor. The Scuffy is one of the "Groves Marine" Fleet, and the Prescotont is a private tug out of Penetang owned by Paul Gaynor.
Capt Bob |16:54 EST |Comments (1)
Puddle Tug
At the 2007 Parry Sound Tugfest, we had the pleasure of meeting Capt Michael Round and his family of the Tug North Sea. In tow was a mini tug called Puddle Tug. This little guy runs on batteries and was a hit at the event. Puddle Tug won the mini tug award, and a trophy that is yet to be delivered. We are sending the award off to Capt Round late but hopefully he will enjoy it until the next event in 2008. Thanks Capt Round for attending and helping to make the event a success.
Capt Bob |08:14 EST |Comments (0)
Largest Container Ship
This is how Wal-Mart gets all its stuff from China. Get a load of this ship!
15,000 containers and a 207' beam! And look at the crew-size for a ship
longer than a US aircraft carrier which has a complement of 5,000 men and
officers.
Think it's big enough? Notice that 207' beam means it was NOT designed for
the Panama or Suez Canal. It is strictly transpacific. Check out the
cruise speed: 31 knots means the goods arrive 4 days before the typical
container ship (18-20 knots) on a China-to-California run. So this
behemoth is hugely competitive carrying perishable goods.
This ship was built in three, or perhaps as many as five sections. The
sections floated together and then were welded. The ship is named
Emma Maersk. The command bridge is higher than a 10-story building
and has 11 crane rigs that can operate simultaneously.
Additional info:
Country of origin - Denmark
Length - 1,302 ft
Width - 207 ft
Net cargo - 123,200 tons
Engine - 14 in-line cylinders diesel engine (110,000 BHP) Cruise Speed - 31
knots, Cargo capacity - 15,000 TEU (1 TEU = 20 ft3 container)
Crew - 13 people First Trip - Sept. 08, 2006 Construction cost - US
$145,000,000+
Silicone painting applied to the ship bottom reduces water resistance and
saves 317,000 gallons of diesel per year .
Capt Bob |13:06 EST |Comments (0)
Sad News
Oct. 27th, 2007 From the Parry Sound Press
source http://www.parrysound.com/press/1193257382/
Man dies after tug capsizes
10/27 - Byng Inlet - A Port Hope man died Sunday morning after the tugboat he was on capsized off the shore of Byng Inlet. Around 8 a.m. Sunday, Donald Orange, 65, of Port Hope, along with Bryan Hogg, 58, of Thornhill, Ronald Orange, 62, and Shawn Orange, 23, both of Penetanguishene, started to drive the 45-foot tugboat to Midland from where is was moored near the Sawmill Lodge. About four miles out, the tugboat started to take on water and eventually capsized after being struck by a wave that put the nose under water, said Britt and area fire chief Larry Olds. All four men were wearing lifejackets and swam for the aluminum boat they were towing, police reported. By the time Donald Orange was pulled into the boat he had no vital signs, said Mr. Olds.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death was completed Monday, but results weren't released that afternoon pending notification of next of kin, said Kristine Dawson, West Parry Sound OPP community services officer. The men headed for the Sawmill Lodge where firefighters worked to revive Donald Orange for 90 minutes. The Britt and Area Fire Department were called to the scene at 11 a.m. The father of two was a member of the Newcastle Yacht Club and his sail boat was scheduled to come out of the water for the winter this past weekend, said Richard Christensen, commodore of the club. "He's kind and generous and always (willing) to help," said Mr. Christensen.
Editor's note - This same tug sank while trawling off of Port Dover, Ontario on March 24, 1974. Her crew of two were both lost. Aletha B. was built as a fish tug by Russel Bros in Owen Sound in 1945.
Capt Bob |07:17 EST |Comments (0)
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