Take a tour of an ACBL towboat!

Join RiverWorks Discovery® and ACBL Captain Chris Pimm as we get a birds eye view of the interior, exterior and underwater machinery on a typical ACBL towboat.

[@prayforthenations8658]

Thank you for making this video. My fiance left for the boat last night. We have a 3 year old and she was really upset to see that her daddy was gone..she requested to watch towboat videos. We found this one and she was so excited to see where her dad was working. He's on the Kenny Eads.

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garlandremingtoniii1338]

ACBL was so very very good to me and, My family over my entire, 32 years. Retired as Captain 2 years, 9 months & 18 days ago. With an absolutely outstanding retirement package.

[@tigerbatman7881]

I pooped

[@b.p.879]

Thanks for getting those resources where they needed to be. My dad was a steelworker at US Steel for 40 years. You guys are a rare breed and I grew up watching Towboats go past our cabin on the Black Warrior near Birmingport AL. It was a super thrilling experience as a kid and still now, to hear and feel that rumble and know exactly what's about to come around the bend at Black Creek.

[@b.p.879]

@@tigerbatman7881 Everybody poops, but, not everybody gets to poop on a towboat going down the river.

[@travler9732]

Does acbl still offer a pension to employees??

[@Michael-dg6fq]

Trip down memory lane. The Harry M. Mack was new in 1975 and the first boat that I drew a paycheck on. I was 17 years old and worked my summer break between junior and senior grades in high school. Back then, companies would hire anyone over the phone with just a few questions to answer (age being one of them!) and then send them to catch a boat somewhere. I worked all that summer and have great memories of decking under Capt. Don Crowder. After high school, using my correct birth date, I went back to ACBL, but strived to stay on the Ohio and/or Green Rivers (much closer to home). When I eventually went for my pilot's exam, Marine Superintendent Jack Bullard had to dredge the reason out of me about my 2 different birth dates!

[@monmixer]

I grew up on the upper Ohio, what a beast of a river. Beautiful and deadly.

[@tassi13827]

Wanted to see the engine room!!

[@JuliaHarrisx]

I’m surprised how big these boats are! I’ve been curious so this video was extremely informative. Thank you for showing us around.

[@phil8212]

Don’t get fooled this a big boat, a lot and I mean a lot are nowhere near this big and fancy. Usually half this size and the rooms even smaller

[@tomnolan9651]

Tugs are all about the engines. I'm disappointed that you didn't take us to tour the heart of the vessel.

[@maxsungwd]

I like how Cory got caught in his cabin and had to high tail it down and start doing garbage duties.

[@coreydavidson7835]

Lol That was me, I tried my best to be in as much of the video as possible. They cut me from most because I was in the halls peeking or in the lounge. Sure was the best boat and crew!! M/V Jacky L O’Neal

[@LadyMarie880]

Thankyou Sir, this is greatly appreciated.

[@gregcarrier2314]

I worked for ACBL for years

[@katieclarkson8845]

My late husband worked for ACBL. We miss him.

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

Sorry about your loss. ❤️

[@mikejohnson3375]

Love the cap. Go Big Blue

[@darrylnelson6264]

Very nice. Very accommodating to say the least!

[@bobdelano6746]

I was on the il. River for Wolfe Marine, started out cleaning barges for Albert, then deckhand 78 9 and 80 out of the Hennepin fleet.

[@kennyrupp7379]

I'm glad to see the comment section open. Along with marquette's comments open beyond me why Ingram has their comment section off

[@hasbulla989]

Ingram is awful and has been sued more times than I can recall.

[@reefcoast9437]

27 working on tugs just like this couldn’t ask for a better job view and the pay checks aren’t bad either!

[@conniedrumjr275]

Thanks for the show, very interesting

[@2bigbufords]

what a beast

[@tc1uscg65]

Man.. I remember sleeping in one of those guest rooms. Took one of my runs on a ACBL T/B. Got on at Tell City to Louisville. I do remember it was a very clean boat. Don't recall they had Sat TV/Internet. Spent most of the trip up on the bridge though. Not sure if the capt was too warm having a Coastie up on the bridge (maybe felt I was spying lol). But was there as part of my "Area Familarzation trip" after being assigned to Coast Guard Ohio River Group when it was in Owensboro Ky. All the radiomen took one of these rides. After a few hours, I think the skipper understood I was a radioman, not an inspector and I was the one he'd talk to if he got into trouble out on the water. I just remember they were some very professional drivers.

[@johntolvstad7210]

Spent 18 years repairing acbl barges in lacrosse WI

[@AlongtheRiverLife]

Beautiful boat!

[@helmutrfeit4661]

I used to ride on boats for ICBL in the early 70. I was cook/relief cook on the Bill Elmer, RW Naye, Chicago Trader among others. ACBL is a great Company. The new boats are a far cry from the boats I worked on. I used to ride up to 90 days at a time, day for day . Those were the days.

[@holenahavlenova6444]

Perfektní loď. A jak to tam máte všechno v úžasné čistotě! To se hned pozná pořádná posádka a dobrý kapitán. Tady u nás, když se projedu ve vlacích, tak to tam je samé svinstvo. Tady blízko je řeka Labe, ale tam plují malinké lodičky oproti tomu, co máte vy. Ať se daří a dobrou plavbu!

[@dixieboy5689]

Wait ... what ?? A fireplace in the lounge , on a tow boat ?? When do I start ?? Loved it.

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

It's cool! If you're ever looking for career information, take a look at our website: www.riverworksdiscovery.org/careers

[@carcar78]

So pleased to see an ACBL boat featured. Spent many an hour videotaping on various company vessels in the late 80’s and 90’s for their primary lubricant supplier. EMD’s still being used? Three of them is tremendous power. Thank you Captain Pimm for the great tour, especially something I rarely encountered, being in dry dock.

[@jimmycannon8057]

I miss working the tow boats. This boat is a lot nicer than the ones I worked on in the 90's. I was on the Eastern, Western, Emily Susan.

[@SumSouuthernSugar]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@kennyrupp7379]

American commercial barge line was one of the biggest companies on the river. Four of the griggs brothers from Marshall county ky Work for ACBL wow that's been years ago

[@olivei2484]

Great tour video. Cam at Lock 19 Keokuk IA sent me.

[@kingtut8381]

GREAT TUTORIAL. THANX

[@btan4209]

Sure would like to see a side view to complete a great tour.

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

Very neat video. Love my boat tours. Thank you. Cheers from Sarnia Ontario Canada 🇨🇦.

[@poiuy0987z]

Cory's like... WTF dude, just walk right in.

[@cdm1250uhf1]

THESE TOWBOATS ARE AMAZING!!!!

[@johnmiller1919]

Former Harry M. Mack looks even better when the third deck was added and a good ole Jeffboat Product.

[@marktwained]

Great video. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@lookingbehind6335]

I think ACBL owns the Elizabeth Dewy now. That was my boat under WKN. Many trips up and down the Mississippi.

[@brandonfreeman9563]

Yes. I ride that boat. It's now the Capt. Michael D. Collins

[@Ukepa]

interesting tour of a ship that you rarely hear about (but depend on for your goods!)

[@bridgette.7495]

very informative! There's a live cam at Lock 19 on the Mississippi that shows these boats locking through, but we can't see close-ups; this provided some good information as to what the inside- and underside- of the towboat looks like.

[@johnkries8189]

very interesting, thanks. for the tour

[@JuliaHarrisx]

I watch the same lock and agree with you 😊

[@pauldillinger2286]

Thanks captain for tour. Those boats are so amazing.

[@wildridge72]

Awesome. Go Cats!

[@charlietanner6211]

thanks for tour capt have always been in aw of tows grew up on ohio barges are not fast but like a turtle they get there with a massive load

[@cds957]

Captain, great video sir, I absolutely love to watch these kinds of videos, especially how you explained about the props and all the rudders, thanks👍

[@esumrall1]

Very interesting and informative video. Thank you !

[@riverrat1284]

I see things haven’t changed since I rode back in the 90’s. That must a lower god boat 😂 their tools are mainly cleaning supplies. Us upper boys always to build their tow in the winter, And then had to build their tow in St Louis.

[@jimwhitsett4736]

Wow!

[@randywise5241]

I want to see the engine room please.

[@bigjer62]

Great video, who builds these boats?

[@kagetom1]

do ships have anchors on the Mississippi?

[@formerfarmer1718]

I’ll haffta wait for the next video to see the engines, I guess. 😳

[@dennispixton9353]

👍👍👍

[@genesmolko8113]

Those downriver boats are so luxurious, not so the boats which run the Three Rivers.

[@lookingbehind6335]

That’s somewhat correct…I was on the Elizabeth Dewy. Very nice boat with all modern features and equipment. But I’ve seen some boats that should have been condemned. Especially harbor hoppers, they were the worse. I remember going on a boat during crew change. It was absolutely disgusting.

[@genesmolko8113]

@@lookingbehind6335 There are no cooks on Three Rivers boats, the headend deckhand is responsible for cooking the meals, the sternend was responsible for the dishes. landing boats do not build up or break down tows, nor do they take off or drop off barges while you are under way. We had to do all that ourselves, all the time. I worked two companies, Mon River and CTC. A hitch is two weeks, with one week off, instead of one month on, one month off like the downriver boats, so that's 2/3 of the year on the river. When I saw how the down river boats had it, I was jealous. 😄

[@bpd231martinko9]

Two questions- What river does this tug operate on? and how long do your tours of duty last?

[@user-mw4dv6sb2n]

it runs the southern Mississippi river from cairo Illinois to south of baton rouge area. crews work 28 days on 28 days off

[@stokerboiler]

Ever meet Mike Wiesand?

[@davidlambert3892]

I don't know anything about this but I was wondering why they are called towboats? To me towing something implies that something is being pulled, not pushed.

[@marksommers6764]

Equal and opposite

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

Yes, it can be confusing. We did a post about it for Towboat Tuesday. A shortened version of that post goes like this: "A TUGboat pulls mostly rather than pushing objects with direct contact or a tow line. While a TOWboat pushes, mostly barges. However, the easiest way to tell them apart is by appearance. A TUGboat comes equipped with a deep hull and a pointy bow. TUGboats also are built with deep propellers. However, TOWboats will include a squared-off bow, with a flat-bottomed hull, which makes it easier for its job of pushing vessels."

[@pravoslavn]

Landlubber asketh... What does "ACBL" stnad for? (I am impresseed with your towboat ! )

[@forgottenfoundations9722]

American continental barge lines

[@jasonbush1656]

@@forgottenfoundations9722 I thought "ACBL" stood for American Commercial Barge Line. Guess they changed it since ACL.

[@forgottenfoundations9722]

@@jasonbush1656 I stand corrected, *commercial

[@thepubliceye]

Why are they called, Tow Boats, when they push?

[@jimmcdonald9244]

Why are they called towboats when it seems they push their barges? (We don't have these vessels in my country). Thank you for the informative vid

[@lookingbehind6335]

When the barge’s are linked together it becomes a “tow”. So the boat takes on that name.

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

It is rather confusing, doing the opposite of what it says. A TUGboat pulls mostly rather than pushing objects with direct contact or a tow line. While a TOWboat pushes, mostly barges. The easiest way to tell them apart is by appearance. A TUGboat comes equipped with a deep hull and a pointy bow. TUGboats also are built with deep propellers. However, TOWboats will include a squared-off bow, with a flat-bottomed hull, which makes it easier for its job of pushing vessels.

[@glennvictor8394]

I want join

[@riverworksdiscovery3708]

If you are still looking for career options, visit our website. www.riverworksdiscovery.org/careers

[@glennvictor8394]

@@riverworksdiscovery3708 thanks 🙏

[@wchuck5801]

Where was the Engine Room ?????

[@cavemanballistics6338]

Since when did a propeller become a wheel?

[@bsbsbsbjsbsbeb555]

🤔👏👏👏👏

[@willjeffery2661]

Engine room?

[@HWPcville]

It's my understanding the pilot is onboard to assist in navigating portions of a water body that requires intimate knowledge of that water body (depths, tidal surge, obstacles, etc). What would be the situation where the pilot would need a private cabin with a bed? Not trolling just asking.

[@coreydavidson7835]

The pilot runs the opposite watch as the captain. We are only allowed 12 hour work days unless emergency situations arise. So when the captain is asleep the pilot is in the wheelhouse steering until captain relieves him. The pilot and captain have the same job, except one has much more paperwork and responsibilities than the other.

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

[@ThatSB]

Now if only these boats paid the men what they are worth instead of half the wages of a real tugboat crew

[@fybdrilltime3166]

Facts!! The usual is 150 a day which is a lowball smh

[@dogechrist]

@@fybdrilltime3166 ouch

[@MarlonBurden-sp8pj]

Exactly because the pay is horrible

[@MarlonBurden-sp8pj]

​@@fybdrilltime3166True

[@danielshaw8049]

Always cracked and leaking

[@aaronhuffman4852]

Do deckhands get a private room?

[@oldcatmech]

Sorry you missed the most important room! Where is the engine room? What is the power plants powering the vessel? Does not go any where with out it!!! Tell I am an engine man!

[@brandoncherry1651]

I feel corey got wrote up

[@jwhit3849]

Dude, do you understand that when you turn your heard away from the mic, we can’t hear you!

[@hasbulla989]

If you were to fall in on the head of a tow, you’d get pushed all the way down the entire tow and chopped up by those big ass rotor blades.

[@marksommers6764]

PLEASE put a MIC on your subject next time !

[@happysingle6240]

I guess its ok if you just can't do anything else

[@jbl7092]

This captain barged into the deckhand's cabin with a cameraman without knocking first. No respect. I was a deckhand on a tug once and did a good job for the company, but the crazy sadistic captain made life miserable for all of us. I quit when I was accepted to the police academy. Guess who I stopped for DUI a year later? Turned out to be his second offense. The owners insurance refused to cover him and he lost his captain's license. Be careful how you treat your crew 😂

[@dougrichardson5810]

Do not work for this company!!!

[@MarlonBurden-sp8pj]

I totally agree

[@wayneheigl5549]

why does no one show the engine room , the best part of the whole boat.