Stasinos tug Toula C, last seen two weeks ago delivering a barge to the 69th Street Transfer Bridge restoration project, was back on the North River Thursday, maneuvering barges with Patricia Jean at Pier 94. Workers were putting the final touches on the facade of the rebuilt pier which was once part of the ship terminal but now, after some years as exhibition space, is being converted to a sound stage facility and will be permanently lost to maritime users.

Just to the south though, the derelict Pier 92 has been taken back by the city’s EDC and is being considered for restoration and reincorporation into the cruise terminal and perhaps some blue highway logistical role.

On Wednesday evening, NY State Marine Highway tug Maddie K ducked into the slip at Pier 92 with a tow and spent some time (see below photo) before continuing north upriver. I don’t know why she stopped in, but if the visit was to address a mechanical, navigational, or logistical issue, this perhaps provides an example of the benefit of maintaining some open pier space for commercial use, a rare commodity along the Hudson River.