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[♪driving rhythm♪]
Come snow or shine, this boat's on the job.
It's a job that probably is unnoticed.
Since 1948, the Driftmaster's been keeping the country's most densely populated area clean of debris.
You never know what to expect.
The master of this vessel, or Master Tug, first boarded this ship as a deckhand and has seen it all.
We're responsible for any kind of hazards to navigation, no matter what it might be--
--and during my time, we've run across quite a few odd things--
--bodies, we've picked up a sunken boat--
--it could mean a helicopter, a small airplane, it could mean a 60-foot whale.
Naturally, behind each one there was a story.
You could pick up a mermaid and it wouldn't surprise you, you know what I mean? [laughs]
Most days these nets hold debris--up to 10 tons.
Anything 20 feet or smaller is able to fit into the net.
Anything 20 feet or longer has to be picked up and placed on top of the vessel.
Left afloat, debris of all sizes can cause $23 million of damage each year.
If a recreational boat--say a 25-footer--hit this log that we picked up--
--it would do a lot of damage, possibly sink it.
A crew of 9 men work aboard the Driftmaster, keeping this busy waterway clear.
They're the backbone of these boats.
All I do is drive and push a pencil.
A job he doesn't mind a bit.
I love it. I absolutely love it.
Mary Cochran, New York Harbor, New York.
[♪driving rhythm♪]