For some time I have been wanting to write an explainer article for my neighbors about the barges and tugs we see anchored along the Hudson every day. Thousands of people observe these vessels daily but most have very little idea what they are and what they do. Thanks to the West Side Rag, an online local newspaper covering the Upper West Side, I have been able to do this and, judging by the comments so far, it seems as if at least some people wanted to know more about what they were observing. The article can be viewed here: https://www.westsiderag.com/2022/03/30/the-barges-and-other-big-boats-in-your-backyard

Meanwhile, Thursday saw the wind shift to the south, pushing a bank of fog in from the harbor in the morning which burned off somewhat by noon. A small craft advisory was in effect all day for the harbor, but the river was actually pretty calm and a number of AT/Bs have dropped anchor in the river, perhaps to get out of the chop. Thunderstorms were forecast to roll in by the evening hours and there were six tug/barge combinations at anchor in the river by the end of the day, including the long-term resident Teresa.

Two Dann Marine tugs were anchored with barges in the river overnight. The Coral Coast, with its distinctive stripped tower and large pushing “knees”, weighed anchor early and headed for the Bayonne fuel terminal and then south down the Arthur Kill. The Emerald Coast left later and headed for a slip in Brooklyn.

The Coast Guard cutter Sturgeon Bay, which we saw Wednesday anchored 30 miles north in Haverstraw Bay, returned to New York and tied up at home at Coast Guard Station Bayonne behind her sister ship the Penobscot Bay.

The Corps of Engineers was busy clearing hazards from the river.