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The fleet is back, but no flat top
USS New York prepares to back into Pier 88 flying the New York State flag from a derrick. The Fleet Week parade of ships was a somewhat more subdued affair this year relative to the recent past, perhaps a reflection of a navy that has been very busy offshore. There was no flattop LHD this year, but we did get Amphibious Transport Dock USS New York and Landing Ship Dock USS Oak Hill. There was also no NATO frigates in attendance this year, with Canadian Offshore Patrol Ship Rolette representing the alliance. Charleston-based Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun returned as well.
Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun prepares to follow New York into the cruise terminal. Also this year, the visiting ships did not venture up the North River beyond the cruise terminal, perhaps a function of bad weather or the heavy ebb tide, though the local vessels did come up as far as the Upper West Side. Oak Hill did not come up the river at all but instead headed straight for the Homeport Pier in Stapleton.
Local Army Corps tug Gelberman carried the flag. Of course we appreciate whatever we get and look forward to seeing the sailors and marines around town.
The FDNY’s big Three Forty Three travelled upriver. 
A New York State Naval Militia boat and NYPD 29-footer were part of the security detail. 
Icebreaker Sturgeon Bay joined the parade after a winter of heavy ice breaking duty. 
The current Sandy Hook patrol boat Bonito also came upriver. 
Canadian offshore patrol vessel Frédérick Rolette docked at Pier 90… 
…just astern of Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun from Charleston 
USS New York tied up on the south side of Pier 88 -
Get ready for the fleet
Stasinos tug Charles James came up the North River against a ripping ebb near the Gateway coffer dam worksite on Tuesday morning. Charles was heading for the cruise terminal where work is underway ahead of the arrival of Fleet Week ships Wednesday. After a few hours, Charles headed back to the harbor.
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Morning fishing
An osprey, not often seen on this section of the estuary, was fishing on the North River near the Boat Basin Marina on Friday morning with the apartment buildings of North Bergen in backdrop.
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Moving metal
Carver towboat Erin Elizabeth cut through Friday morning fog with a load of scrap metal from up north. Erin was heading for the scrap dock in Newark where a Turkish-flagged bulk ship was loading metal for export probably back to Turkey. Perhaps the molecules will return to us one day as rebar or some other product. Skies were clearing Saturday morning when Erin passed the old Boat Basin Marina heading back home.
©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Round trip
Poling & Cutler’s 4,200 HP Marilyn George came down the North River late Thursday morning with the light tank barge Edwin A. Poling, heading for the Kills. By early Friday, they were Albany-bound again, cutting through the fog having loaded new cargo overnight at, I believe, Bayway.
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More cement
Spring is a busy time in the cement transportation business. On Tuesday, Coral Coast was back on the North River, moving a cargo of cement manufactured in Ravenna NY to a distribution terminal on Flushing Bay in Queens. By Thursday morning, Coral was already back in Ravenna, picking up a new cargo.
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Along for the ride
Stasinos tug Charles James came up the North River early Tuesday with a CMT hopper barge and the CMT tug Helen, I think not under power, lashed alongside the tow. I believe they were heading back to the Port of Coeymans.
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Visit from Mexico
The Mexican navy training ship ARM Cuauhtémoc arrived in New York Harbor on Tuesday. Visiting tall ships sometimes come up to dock on the end of North River Pier 86 but Cuauhtémoc stayed right at buoy 1 and headed up the East River to dock at South Street Seaport.
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Monday greens
Marilyn George, Poling & Cutler’s 4,200 HP tug returned from Rensselaer with the 304-foot Edwin A Poling products barge early Monday and anchored off West New York.
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Trading places
The tug Vinik No. 6, recently famous for towing the SS United States from Philly to Florida, was anchored early Monday on the North River with a tank barge which I believe was A87. On Tuesday, Chrystal Cutler came up to relieve No. 6 on the barge and then, later that day, the big Saint Emilion came up to take over, allowing Chrystal to return to the harbor. The Saint would later bring the barge upriver towards Albany.
Observations on the Hudson River as it passes through New York City. The section of the Hudson which passes through New York is historically known as the North River, called this by the Dutch to distinguish it from the Delaware River, which they knew as the South River. This stretch of the Hudson is still often referred to as the North River by local mariners today. All photos copyright Daniel Katzive unless otherwise attributed. For more frequent updates, please follow northriverblog on Facebook or Instagram.
North River Notes 