Just another day at the office? - Not for 11 TowBoat Captains!

A TRIBUTE TO MY FELLOW CAPTAINS - WELL DONE!!

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 3, 2010 – It’s the nature of their business, but it’s not their job. When recreational boaters have a dead battery, run out of gas, or require a gentle tug off a stubborn shoal, the men and women who captain the nation’s largest fleet of on-the-water towboats respond 24-hours a day or night, much like an auto club for boat owners.   However, with over 600 towing vessels spread across America’s waterways, the law of averages dictates that life-threatening emergencies are an occasional event that unfolds on the seas and lakes around them.  As with any heroic act, the captain is faced with the split-second decision on whether to step in and try to save the individual or to call for help.  BoatUS Towing Services honored 11 of its TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist captains with its annual BoatUS “Lifesaving Award” at a ceremony that capped off the group’s annual conference held recently in Arlington, VA.

“When lives were at stake these captains didn’t blink, ultimately saving 34 lives,” said US Coast Guard Chief of Search and Rescue Capt. David McBride, who attended the event.  “Because these professional captains were on the water, they were able to render critical assistance to fellow mariners when help was needed."  See entire BOATUS press release HERE, which details each of their efforts.

These 11 were also recognized by the USCG on their BLOG, On Scene - The Journal of U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue (HERE).

Great Job!!