Feb 5, 2025
“My day starts at 6 a.m. when I report to the galley for a pre-job brief,” said Tasha Case, when asked about a day-in-the-life of a TVA deckhand. “Then we fire everything up.”
Tasha is part of the crew on TVA’s towboat, the Freedom. This 100-foot, Tier 4 vessel adheres to rigorous emissions regulations from the EPA and showcases TVA’s commitment to cleaner energy. Speaking of clean, one of Tasha’s tasks is to make sure the Freedom is spotless.
“We’re always pressure washing and keeping windows clean for visibility.”
That’s sort of where it all began—when Tasha branched out from her job at the Equipment Service Shop in Hartsville, Tennessee to board a towboat in Muscle Shoals. She shadowed the crew, cleaned the boat and discovered a passion for being on the water. After three years of training, Tasha applied for an open deckhand position.
“I cried when I got the call for an interview,” she said. “It meant that much to me.”
The Freedom is the first of its kind being operated by a federal agency. But the Freedom isn’t the only one boasting accolades. Tasha is TVA’s first female deckhand, and she wears the title with pride.
“I might not be the strongest, and I might not throw the farthest, but we all pitch in, and there are things I do really well.”
Tasha began to illustrate how the crew secures the Freedom at docks or locks, expertly weaving the thick rope in figure eights around a sturdy post and dogging off the line—a term that means securely fastening the rope to prevent loosening.
“The line goes around the bit like this,” she demonstrated. “Figure eight, quarter turn, then dog it off.” She whispered the steps to herself—rhythmic as a lullaby she’d said a hundred times.
Tasha takes this attention to detail from the towboat to her personal life, too. She’s been the sole caretaker for her sister, Tabitha, who was paralyzed after contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome.
“I brought her to my house, so I could care for her,” Tasha said. “I wanted her to be able to live as independently as possible. Now Tabitha is engaged,” she said, eagerly reaching for her phone to share photos.
Tasha embodies both strength and serenity in the way she works and cares for those outside her job at TVA. As a trailblazer for women in this profession, Tasha hopes she’s not the only one.
“I want to tell other women out there to go for it. You are more than capable. Keep focused and keep your goals high. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”