James J. Versluis

The James J. Versluis is a tugboat operated by the Chicago Water Department.

One of her primary tasks is helping service five water intake structures, called "cribs", several miles off-shore.

The James J. Versluis was the worker's main link to the shore, and would have to make its way to the cribs even when the lake was frozen over.

While both the tug and the Fire Department's much newer fireboat Christopher Wheatley were designed to be capable of breaking the ice on Chicago's rivers, this task falls mainly to the James J.

[7] In addition other city departments have maintenance vessels that travel the rivers to maintain bridges and other infrastructure—even in winter.