Working the Mighty Mississippi with Captain Doicus Langley Jr. | The Adrenaline Zone Podcast

“Both engines died instantly, the hit was so hard. I immediately just kind of lay down on my bed because I knew how bad the impact was going to be. It threw my bed all the way across the room, dresser laid over, refrigerators downstairs on the floor - it was a hard impact.”
Captain Doicus Langley Jr. joins Sandy and Sandra on the podcast today to share details of this perilous moment and so much more as he recounts his journey from a water-loving childhood to becoming a seasoned push boat Captain on the Mississippi River. Along the way, he discusses the contrasting experiences of working on rivers versus open water and the unique challenges of river navigation. Reflecting on the evolving technology in tugboat operations, Captain Langley describes the logistics of moving cargo from Minnesota to New Orleans as well as the immense horsepower required for steering and speed. After highlighting the competitive nature of the maritime industry and the collaborative spirit among river captains, this very special guest draws the episode to a conclusion with some valuable advice for aspiring captains, underscoring the dedication needed for a successful career in river navigation.
0:00 Start
0:23 Introduction
1:56 Captain Langley Jr.’s upbringing and early love of being on the water
4:23 His perspective on working on rivers vs. open water
5:33 Becoming a Captain
9:57 The evolution of tug operation over the years
13:33 Tugs and barges
16:19 The competitive side of the industry
18:16 Moving a load from Minnesota to New Orleans
21:59 A tug’s horsepower, steering, and speed
26:01 Navigating the Mississippi’s hazards
29:33 Running aground
31:29 The Captain’s worst incident
36:21 His crew and its work dynamic
39:16 His relationship with other Captains
40:43 Advice for aspiring tug or push boat Captains
Key Takeaways:
"Not only does a good cook cook good food, they can be the person who kind of holds everything together because they're down there in the center of the whole boat."
"Typically, people that start in the river industry stay there.”
"Within a five year period, you can be sitting in the wheelhouse running a boat, maybe not as a captain, but as a pilot."
"The southbound vessel proposes the place and manner of passing, while the northbound vessel has more control."
"You have to, at some point in your career, be able to dedicate yourself to the boat while you're on the boat."
“It can be great. I mean, it really is like a family away from home. It can also be as bad as you can imagine like a squabbling family at home, you know, like, you're having issues. So it can go both directions.”
“There's definitely a huge need for people out on the river for merchant mariners in general.”
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