Cap’n on Tuboats’ Radio Banter

The Cap’n

Message from the Cap’n is a compilation of fishing advice, waterman and weather insights, Chesapeake lore, and ordinary malarkey from the folks who keep their feet wet in the Potomac and St. Mary’s rivers.

Like a well-scripted play, tugboats perform in unison to get a ship to her berth.

Some ships are handled with as many as four tugs working together under the direction of a docking pilot.

Everyone has a specific job to do. Communication is the thread holding the process together.

Chugging along with about 5000 horsepower with z drives enables precision work if you can hear what is being asked of you.

VHF radios, radar, GPS, and cell phones are the main communication tools in this process.

I have listened to the conversations over a six-year period. So let me tell you a story in verse:

• ******Tugs*****
• Very early they stream out into the bay
• ‘Cause a ship is looking to dock today
• We all know there is a pilot ahead
• When a boat passes us with white over red
•        **
  McCallister’s red tugs have white stripes on the stack
• Moran tugs sport solid red in color over black
• They test their equipment and water cannons every day
• Lest they are needed but fail to display
•      ***
• They connect with the ship in good manner
• With both stout hawsers and radio banter
• McCallister’s Steven on the bow and Emily on the stern
• One to slow down and one to turn
•     ****
• Moran’s April on the shoulder, Kaye on the hip
• Used for pushing the ship to her slip
• And with all four tugs neatly in place
• They will nudge their charge gently into her space
•     *****
• The pilot to Emily astern, “reverse your engine by 25 percent”
• Emily repeats the order: “Emily back 25 percent”
• To Steven forward: “back away easy, keep the line tight”
• Steven answers, “back away easy” keeping it right
•        ******
• To Kaye and James: “give me a little left wheel”
• We need to slide down the berth for this to be real
• Just a few meters until all is aligned
• To pass that cargo to its space assigned
•     *******
• Communication is the key to success
• One who answers with clarity does impress
• Some helmsmen answer clear as a bell
• Others do mumble and it sounds like hell
•        ********
• The safety boat performs a distinct mission
• Patrolling the berths and checking conditions
• Might not be important at all you could think
• Unless you be the one to fall in the drink
•        *********
• With all lines secure and line handlers off the dock
• The pilot gives clearance to leave the block
• By that time the day its glory is just beginning.
• We’re back to the moorings with today’s job still pending.

Till next time, remember “It’s Our Bay, Let’s Pass It On.”

To learn about tours and trips into the Chesapeake, keep in touch with Fins + Claws on Facebook. Catch up on Messages from the Cap’n member page. Please visit Cap’n Jack’s lore and share with your social media sites. Or reach him here: [email protected] or 240-434-1385.