WOW! We were there! On TV! In Duluth!The TV program "Venture North" began. "Whoa! Look at that! WE saw those tugs! WE saw them moving that ship! We're standing right there, in the background; those tiny, little specks on the end of the fishing pier. Just us and no one else. I've got the photos to prove it! We didn't know it at the time, but as we were watching the tugs Kansas and Vermont bring the Helena Oldendorf into the harbor, the Venture North crew was taping the whole operation for this story, from the deck of the lead tug! At that moment, I was already thrilled at our good luck; being in the right place at the right time.
What we were watching was this: from our right came the 1000+ ft. Paul R. Tregurtha passing under the Blatnik bridge, heading out to the inland sea; from our left came the saltie Helena Oldendorf, tugs fore and aft, just straightening out after being guided through a hard 90 degree right turn around the Port Authority dock. Though the ships seemed to be heading right down each others throats, they soon passed each other with about 150 ft. between, amazingly close (to me) for ships of that size, traveling that speed. As they came abreast, they were less than 500 ft. from our position. What a view! Unfortunately, I then ran out of film, so missed capturing the close up tugboat action that followed a few minutes later.
Just after the Oldendorf passed under the Blatnik, it had to make a hard left and I still remember the aft tug, pulling on the stern line with all it's might, it's own stern seemingly awash as it's prop dug deep for maximum grab. What action! What adventure! How exciting to watch these boats at work! And serious work it is. And the Venture North crew did a fine job of showing viewers a little part of tugboating life. A fun segment guys! And it was more fun for us than anyone else because we were there when it happened! Any Comments?
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