Tug boat traffic in the Ballard Ship Canal especially between the Ballard Bridge and Ballard Locks is a bit of an enigma. It’s down right shocking what goes in these water ways with in a 24 hour period. Even more shocking is the skilled boat handing capabilities of these phenomenal tug boat captains and how they make it look so easy!
Fremont Tugboat Company is hands down one of the busiest Ship Canal tug boat companies. Fremont Tug is located in Fremont, Seattle they’ve been in business since 1915 providing tugboat service in Lake Union, Lake Washington and Puget Sound. They also moor tugs at their sister company, Fremont Boat Co, that has moorage for boats from 15’ to 90’ in Lake Union.
Fremont Tug operates smaller tugs and provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round. The tugs range in size from the 15 foot, 135 H.P. “Jeep” to the 51 foot, 500 H.P. “Dixie”. They are also best known as the Mini-Tug Service,towing vessels up to 250 feet; towing vessels in and out of dry docks, assist anyone that needs an extra tug, shift barges, pile drivers, crabbers, tenders, long-liners, fish processors, Navy ships, NOAA ships and all kinds of yachts. You name it, they can move it.
F/V Bering Sea, Alaska Crabber, Getting a push with Fremont Tugboat, Grace!
Western Towboat Company is also a very busy tug and barge family owned and operated business Seattle, WA. They have been in business since 1948, and has been operating tugs and barges from Puget Sound to the Aleutian Islands, from Arctic Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands and to the Panama Canal. They provide customers with one of the most modern, custom built & designed tug & barge fleets on the West Coast. Clearly these owners take great pride in their boats, crews and work!
Western TowBoat Company, Ballard Barge through the Ship Canal, Seattle WA
Terilyn Tug Boat Captain Slow & Steady, Ship Canal Passing Fishermen’s Terminal
Tugboat Terilyn is famous for her work pushing and pulling the pontoons slated for completion of the 520 roadway of Seattle. The first of two supplemental pontoons being towed in March from Tacoma to Lake Washington is scheduled to reach the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. These Tug boats guide the massive concrete box through the Lake Washington Ship Canal before reaching the lake’s western shore. A second Tacoma-built supplemental pontoon is scheduled to arrive in Mid March, since then we have all see alot more of the 520 cruise buy. Gosh, those captains have guts to move that king kong concrete – with no breaks for automatic stops!
Island Tug & Barge, Pushing the Gravel Barge Under the Ballard Bridge every night!
Island Tug & Barge run gravel through the Ballard Locks, under the Ballard Bridge through lake Union to the southern tip past the West Seattle Bridge like clock work nearly every evening.
Tug Boat Captain & Crew – may you have safe, calm, smooth travels!
