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September 2017
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boatingonthehudson.com
W
hen I took over leadership of the Chamber of Southern
Saratoga County over six years ago, I was told about this
interesting event in Waterford that immediately captured my
attention – the Waterford Tugboat Roundup. This annual
celebration of maritime commercial history is a really unique
and wonderful way to learn something about the waterways
that have provided the lifeblood of energy generation,
materials transportation and interstate commerce for two
centuries. Plus, we’re all boaters! So what’s better than a
maritime festival to give us all something to get excited about?
Last year was the first annual Tugboat Chug 5k, a great event held right along the historic canals and downtown Waterford.
There will be a kids fun run directly following the 5k, plus prizes for top finishers and all the kids!
Reflections
on the
“Roundup”!
by
Pete Bardunias,
President/CEO, the Chamber
of Southern Saratoga County
The Tugboat Roundup is inspirational because it not
only shows us the vessels of the past, but also those of
the present and future. Last year, moored behind the
replica of the 17th Century Onrust were several boats of
the New York State Marine Highway’s fleet. These tugs
move some 90 percent of the products shipped on the
canal system each year and almost all of the freight which
is transported on the Champlain Canal. These vessels are
specifically designed to handle the unique demands of
the canals – some even have telescoping pilothouses
to duck under bridges in a 21st century version of “Low