The Calumet River doesn't have nearly the traffic it had in the heyday of steel production on the Southeast Side of Chicago. But there is still plenty of work for the crew of the tugboat Kimberly Selvick. It's just one of the boats operated by Calumet River Fleeting. Jay tags along for a day to see how it's done.
I worked freelance out of the NMU hall in Joliet in the mid-late 70s. A lot of jobs on Material Service Co boats and Twin City Barge. Sometimes just the small ones taking sand up to the cement plant north of the Loop or into the industrial docks in and around Lake Calumet. But sometimes larger boats that would take a tow 3 wide and 5 or 6 long down the Illinois to Granit City. Loved those longer trips...ride and guide.
I started with Twin Cities via the NMU Joliet hall in the spring of 1976 on the Donald O'Toole; we did trips across the lake to Amoco at Indiana Harbor and back, sometimes to the Calumet, sometimes to Chicago Controlling Lock and through the Loop. Did a stint with MSC and then to Valley Line where I got my license and stayed till they were sold in 1992. Altogether 41 years on the rivers, I finished up on the M/V Cody Boyd with AEP, which I'm sure that these guys are familiar with,we made it to Calumet Lake every now and again.
You all have my respect, bless you
A well done, informative segment! Thanks for posting it!
Tug life or no life 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Love it
Love tug life
Towboat, not tugboat.
thank you finally somebody😂
2 people for 1 face wire is crazy