Aruna Berk passed us on July 1 heading for Buchanan with a load of gypsum from Spain (see Wind and Wallboard). She headed back to sea a week later on July 8, passing ahead of the departing Italian destroyer visiting Pier 88. However, she was back again a day later. Having made a big loop in the Lower Bay, the Berk came back up the North River Friday night and by Saturday evening was heading for either Coeymans or Albany, likely picking up a new cargo, perhaps scrap metal.

Late Friday we saw the DEP tanker Red Hook leaving the North River sewage plant trailed closely by the Ellen McAllister. Ellen accompanied the Red Hook back to Wards Island where she remained tied up all day Saturday, suggesting Red Hook may indeed be experiencing some mechanical difficulty. The North River tanker serviced the plant on Saturday. The North River is the oldest of the DEP’s tankers, dating back to 1974, and is the only one still in service from the days when sludge was dumped far out to sea rather than dewatered and disposed of on land (or converted to fertilizer products).

The pusher tug J. Arnold Witte headed up to the Yonkers sugar refinery, likely to help the large dry bulk barge Knot Refined get underway. Shortly after, the Ruby Coast came through with Knot Refined on the line, heading back to Florida a little over a week after the pair arrived.

Saturday was a beautiful day to be on the water, and free kayaking was back at Pier 96. The kayakers are confined to a small bay between Pier 97 and Pier 94, which seems limiting to me but at least they can get on the water safely.

Three tanker barges were layed up in the anchorages waiting for work, the Saint Emilion, which replaced its Poling-Cutler fleet mate the Kristin-Poling off 72nd Street, the Cape Canaveral of Kirby Corp further up, and, back at Grants Tomb for the second time in a week, the Barry Silverton, this time with an empty barge.