First Female Tugboat Captain

Marcia MaconeSoldotna High School students in Mr. Dan Harbison's Alaska History class had the opportunity to meet Marcia Macone, the first female tugboat captain in Alaska. Marcia has received three awards from the Department of the Interior for "Acts of Valor in the Line of Duty". She currently works for Crowley Company as Captain of a Voith-Schneider (Tractor-Tug) tugboat. The Voith Schneider is the most sophisticated tractor-tug in the world. Marcia's experience runs the gamut, from ship's cook to deck hand, to safety officer, navigator, pilot and captain. She has worked aboard the Tigalax, the Alaska Fish and Game Research vessel based in Homer. At one point in her career she escorted very large barges through the Panama Canal. Macone has been a guest speaker throughout Alaska, sharing her vast experience and knowledge of the maritime industry.