As ominous red skies forecast a storm on Lake Michigan, Captain John "The Legend" Selvick races out of port to try to beat the weather--only to be sidetracked when his rookie first mate, Chris Costello, almost sinks a smaller tug in a dangerous maneuver. Across the lake, John's trusted right hand, Captain Ted Long, is forced to make a decision: stay in port losing money, or risk it all--and face the very real possibility of losing his haul or sinking his tug in the oncoming gale. On the northern reaches of Lake Superior, Captain Stan Dawson attempts a rescue mission in the middle of a blinding snowstorm.