Heating oil season was kicking in Wednesday, with temperatures poised to drop, brisk winds, and a recently full moon elevating tidal currents. For whatever reason, tanker barge traffic was dominated by some of the smallest units we see on the Hudson. The Matthew Tibbetts, one of Reinauer’s smallest tugs and one we have not seen on a Hudson River run in over two years, came through early with the RTC 28 barge which has about 1/3rd the capacity one of Reinauer’s typical ATB barges.

Balico Marine’s Navigator followed later in the day with her Balico 100 barge, which I believe is smaller than the RTC 28.

Just at sundown, Boston Marine Transportation’s Quenames came through with one of that company’s barges. Quenames and Matt Tibbetts were both heading for the Global terminal in Newburgh. Navigator seems to have dropped off AIS before her destination but may have been going to the Heritage terminal in Kingston. By Thursday morning, all three units are on their way back to New York Harbor after unloading overnight.