What it Takes to Keep a Tug Boat Crew Happy

It takes a lot of food to keep a crew happy. In this video we go "Grub Shopping".

ita

[rickrogers]

I worked as a truck mechanic at oil terminals. One time in Brooklyn a barge crewman was trying to get a taxi to get groceries. No taxis in Brooklyn back then. I gave him a ride to the local supermarket in our service truck. In 5 minutes in that store he came out with 2 loaded shopping carts. Filled the 8 foot bed of the truck. Have no idea how he did that so fast. I helped him haul the groceries back to the barge. He gave me a courtesy card from the company and said anytime one of his company vessels docked I was welcome aboard for a meal. All the mariners I bumped into on that job were great guys.

[helimech]

In 1978 I spent 3 months on a tuna boat. I was maintaining the helicopter used for spotting fish. We were fishing in international waters from central Mexico, 5 degrees above the equator about 30 miles off the coast of central America, and about 150 miles east of Hawaii. We ate good. The ships master had custody of the booze. Everyone got one shot a day, no matter how the fishing went.

[KristaB]

I used to be a meat cutter in a port city grocery store and the tugboat guys were always my favorite customers. They’d bring me a long list of items they needed cut and wrapped special, which I enjoyed preparing for them. I thought it was pretty neat how they weren’t afraid to spend the big bucks to make sure the crew had good food.

[kenergyberns]

In 1962, my senior year in high school, I spent most of the summer working as a relief oiler on Texaco tug boats out of Bayonne, NJ. They had a full time cook on each of the two boats who cooked 3 meals a day for each of the shifts, and for breakfast you could have whatever you wanted, like steak and eggs. On the one tugboat the Captain would allow drinking beer and on the other that Captain would not. It was a nice summer that I remember fondly. I used to play pinocle with the crew members winning a lot of the time, having played a lot with my relatives in Pennsylvania.

[Bushmoose]

Ahhh, memories. I've been retired for a few years now, but recall grub day like it was Christmas morning. LOL There was a sheet in the mess that everyone could write their wish list and I don't remember too many disappointments. The company was very generous when it came to food. I always remember the looks we got as we were checking out with 4, 5 or 6 carts loaded. I would call the office to let them know it was grocery day and the book keeper would make sure the card was loaded to cover everything. Never a negative word from the office.

[frankmarcia]

WOW, this brought back real good memories to me.i spent two years on a U S Coast Guard tug in New York Harbor. our cook had a budget to work with and he did a great job feeding a 20 man crew. our tug was 110 feet so the living conditions were very tight . we did everything from fire fighting, to port security, and ice breaking on the rivers. it was great i loved it.

[Kat-nlgh]

It is remarkably unbelievable how they zig zag ALL over this supermarket 😂🤣 If I ever have to backtrack a single isle, I’m annoyed with myself lol. These guys are hilariously awesome. They got the job done ✅👏👏👏

[davidtriola]

First of all, thank you for a peek into your world. I'm an over the road truck driver and I have what is called "a big house" which has everything you need to cook including a microwave/convection oven, a 2 burner stove, a good sized fridge and a sink. Not to mention a toilet and shower. So seeing how you folks do it is interesting as we're both in the transportation industry. I just moved to northwestern Alabama near the Tennessee River but grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY on the Hudson and have always been drawn to all types of transportation styles. Again, thank you for sharing and stay safe!

[jaquigreenlees]

The Joy Of Cooking, the best cookbook of all time. It actually teaches you the WHY not just the how.
It has been in print for over 100 years and is still being printed.

[georgewootton]

Your subtle humor makes the videos even more entertaining ... an interesting part of the job for sure ... thanks Capt.

[ClassXIRoads]

Thanks Capt. Tim for taking the time to show us this side of the crews jobs, oh ya and never ever make the cook mad. CUOTO jim

[dawgsview]

Great timing thank you. This Sunday I start my new job. At 63 I decided to be a cook on a tug boat. It only took me six months to get to this spot. Watching your channel the whole time. Wish me luck.

[wusnmlv]

Poor tug. The heaviest tow on record is the crew😂😂😂.

[lancecluster]

Would not have guessed that a trip to the grocery store would be the topic of one of your videos, but it actually is really interesting to see this aspect of "life at sea". Shopping cart view is pretty funny.

[mellissadalby]

Hi Captain Tim!
Food is one of my favorite things. Smart shopping for groceries in Delaware instead of NYC!
More than 20 years ago, I helped to instrument the Rotterdam harbor and I was impressed by the size of their container yard. It went on for miles and miles and miles... Just forever.
On the subject of no booze on the boat, during WWI Josephus Daniels, the Secretary of the Navy prohibited alcohol on Navy ships, and coffee ended up being the "strongest drink" so the sailors called it a "Cup of Joe" in derision of the Secretary of the Navy Joe Daniels. Just sharing.
CUOTO

[timothyboone]

I’m here comparing your operations to inland operations. It’s almost exactly the same. I did a lot of our grocery run at Costco too. They do have the best meats, especially steaks.
I had a brain aneurysm rupture almost 4 years ago. That pretty much ended my towboat career. It almost ended me. But anyways at that time our budget was $17.50 per person per day. I’m most certain that it has increased since then. Someone asked me a few days ago if I missed the boat. I said I miss going to the grocery store with the company’s credit card.
Thanks for the video!

[PistachioVentures]

Always nice to see the different aspects of what you guys go through. I'm a sucker for tugs, trawlers, and all things diesel and have been following you for a few years now. Stay safe out there. CUOTO

[madmesmith]

Only 1500 miles at Sea on a Tug But Loved Every Second, My Friend Who Own'd the Tug went Down with Sea Sickness and i had to Take them Helm for 36 hour's Coming Back from Kiel Germany....Thanks for Making this Video.

[randyneilson]

Worked as a diver on rigs and supply boats in the Caribbean and the Gulf. The food was always top notch. The steward on a drill ship was from NOLA and man, could he cook. I volunteered to stay abroad for maintenance an extra week just for the food. Those were good times for a young, single guy.

[chrisreidland]

Just found your channel today. Am getting into the tugboat industry as a deckhand. Thanks for your videos!