The Twin Cities is the head of commercial navigation on the Mississippi River. From Lock and Dam #2 at Hastings upstream to the north side of Minneapolis and the City of Savage on the Minnesota River, there are 57 miles of opportunity with more than 30 terminals, towboat operators and landings.

St. Paul has the last large turning area (just below Robert St. Bridge) to maneuver barges and break or assemble 'tows' for the long haul boats from the south. From here the local companies operate shifting services move barges to various terminals.

By year 2011...
Port of Hope will help local Christians establish a locally supported chaplain style ministry to the towboat and shore workers in the Twin Cities area.  The purpose is to: 

        - meet and serve the crew members of the long-haul towboats that arrive in the Twin Cities area.

        - meet and serve local towboat operators and their shore-based support workers and security guards.

        - build and maintain friendships for spiritual encouragement contact with towboat crew and operators via e-mail, Internet social networking and cell phone. 

Our tentative goal is to have a ministry in place by the 2011 shipping season.