After we apparently overstayed our welcome at dock something very unusual happened,we had to go to work.It's always an unfortunate event when a tugboat goes aground.There are always a million questions everyone asks themselves,why,how and most importantly who.It's a relief when you find out noone died or was injured and only minor damage was done.So far here is what the evil train of tugboat gossip has told us.Yesterday evening a hard rain set in just south of Albany,New York.When this happened a tug and 90,000 barrel barge,which was empty,were headed north,destination Albany.Needless to say they didn't quite make it.During the rain visibility was near zero and wash off was terrible.When trying to round a sharp corner the barge got set,meaning pushed away from where it was being steered due to either tide or run off,probably a combination.Next thing they knew bang scrape and they were stuck.Now usually when someone gets grounded it's the barge that's stuck,not this time.Since the barge was empty,the tug was drawing more water than the barge,around 12-15 feet,depending on how much fuel water and waste oil is on board.So any who we got the call to head north and lend a hand.It took a good twelve hours to get here and when we did the local tug boaters had the tug and barge free and they amazingly docked the barge with no trouble.I won't name drop on what company the grounding is affiliated with I will only say it wasn't ours.The Coast Guard is involved,as is standard procedure,and it looks like the divers have put the tug out of commission for the time being.All we have heard so far is that the keel coolers are busted on the port side however the divers have only been in the water a few minutes.We have been informed that yup you guessed it now we are in command of the barge.Once we get allowed to get close to the tug I will try and snap some pictures of any damage if I can see any,my guess is that it's all underwater.The Hudson River is a beautiful river,but with a snake like winding rocky bottom only a hundred yards wide in spots it is very unforgiving.Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Unforgiving River
After we apparently overstayed our welcome at dock something very unusual happened,we had to go to work.It's always an unfortunate event when a tugboat goes aground.There are always a million questions everyone asks themselves,why,how and most importantly who.It's a relief when you find out noone died or was injured and only minor damage was done.So far here is what the evil train of tugboat gossip has told us.Yesterday evening a hard rain set in just south of Albany,New York.When this happened a tug and 90,000 barrel barge,which was empty,were headed north,destination Albany.Needless to say they didn't quite make it.During the rain visibility was near zero and wash off was terrible.When trying to round a sharp corner the barge got set,meaning pushed away from where it was being steered due to either tide or run off,probably a combination.Next thing they knew bang scrape and they were stuck.Now usually when someone gets grounded it's the barge that's stuck,not this time.Since the barge was empty,the tug was drawing more water than the barge,around 12-15 feet,depending on how much fuel water and waste oil is on board.So any who we got the call to head north and lend a hand.It took a good twelve hours to get here and when we did the local tug boaters had the tug and barge free and they amazingly docked the barge with no trouble.I won't name drop on what company the grounding is affiliated with I will only say it wasn't ours.The Coast Guard is involved,as is standard procedure,and it looks like the divers have put the tug out of commission for the time being.All we have heard so far is that the keel coolers are busted on the port side however the divers have only been in the water a few minutes.We have been informed that yup you guessed it now we are in command of the barge.Once we get allowed to get close to the tug I will try and snap some pictures of any damage if I can see any,my guess is that it's all underwater.The Hudson River is a beautiful river,but with a snake like winding rocky bottom only a hundred yards wide in spots it is very unforgiving.
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4 comments:
Damn Tugnut to the rescue!
That's always how it is!
So you get called on the rescue "other" companies? I hope they write you a big check??!?!
my check as you can imagine is quite small in comparison to what the owners get,and no this is only the second time in my five years on the water that I have been involved in any type of rescue or recovery situation.
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