A Conversation with Captain Jim Van Dongen
Inland Mariners Oral History Series, No. 3: Captain Jim Van Dongen talks about
his career on the Great Lakes. Following in his father's footsteps Jim recalls standing
at the wheel on the carferry City of Milwaukee, sailing across Lake Michigan from his
home port of Muskegon.
After serving in the U. S. Navy Jim returned to Muskegon and began working on the Grand
Trunk carferries as a wheelsman. After two years of working on various ships Jim takes a
trial job as wheelsman on the John J. Boland, summer of 1969.
In 1984 Jim becomes captain, and works relief on the M/V American Republic, and Buffalo.
From 1992 to 1996 Jim is captain of the Str. John J. Boland. In 1996 he becomes captain of the
Indiana Harbor.
Ships Jim worked on in his early years on the Great Lakes
1967 - 1968 S.S. City of Milwaukee, S.S. Madison, S.S. Grand Rapids
1968 Tanker Mercury, Str. William Clay Ford
1969 Str. John J. Boland
1970 Str. Harris N. Snyder