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Flying through April
The first few days of the new week have seen fairly light traffic during periods of NRN observation. Cement barges continue to be active. Early spring would typically be associated with a pick-up in construction activity consistent with this, though one might have thought the warm winter would dampen the seasonality somewhat. Temperatures continue to climb, making for a pleasant mid-April.
Saint Emilion headed for Albany with cargo Sunday evening 
Josephine’s barge appeared more heavily loaded on a similar route Monday morning 
Janice Ann Reinauer returned from Newburgh with a light barge Monday evening. 
Tuesday morning saw the Pearl Coast heading for New Haven with a load of cement, passing the Alpine Tower and the Palisades 
Mister Jim headed for Coeymans Tuesday afternoon with a raft of hoppers 
Sound Marine’s Kenny G was heading for Nyack with a deck barge, returning to Pier 81 in the afternoon 
DEP tanker Red Hook was servicing the North River plant on Monday 
On Tusday, Port Richmond was doing the honors 
DonJon’s Emily Ann was servicing the DSNY’s Pier 99 facility 
A small tug was helping assemble the docks at the NYC Parks Departments Dyckman Street pier ahead of the spring season. -
In transit
Helping to transit Hudson River Community Sailing J80s from Viking Boatyard in Verplanck to Pier 66 in Chelsea provided a great opportunity to observe traffic north of the North River for a change. Traffic was moderate over the weekend, with an upbound bulker and downbound tanker the most notable observations.
Verplanck Fire Rescue keeps a boat at Viking Boatyard 
The boatyard hosts two tugboats. The Emil P Johannsen is 1957 vintage 
Across the river, the retired FDNY fireboat John McKean continues to reside at the Panco Petroleum dock in Stony Point. The 1954 vintage McKean was expected to move down to a new permanent home in Tarrytown this year but the proposal seems to have run into local objections. 
Sapphire Coast passed between Haverstraw and Verplanck with a load of cement from the Ravenna NY plant heading for Lafarge’s Bayonne terminal. 
Fisherman were doing there thing in Haverstraw Bay 
Southbound Amtrak Empire Service behind a P32 locomotive passed a J80 with spinnaker deployed north of Croton Point 
The bulk ship Pearl Island passed Hook Mountain and entered Haverstraw Bay, en route to Albany from Chile and likely carrying road salt 
Small passenger boats travel to Nyack’s North River Shipyard from as far away as Rhode Island for service. In residence Saturday were a Statue of Liberty boat, a Circle Line, a Seastreak, and several other vessels. 
Coast Guard 65’ small harbor tug Wire fished some flotsam from the river which appeared to be a Mylar balloon sign 
And continued south under the Mario Cuomo Bridge. Wire did not head for their Bayonne base, but rather continued around the Battery and out the Sound, arriving Sunday in New London. 
Kimberly Poling came south under the Cuomo Bridge with a light barge 
…and later anchored on the North River for a few hours before heading for a terminal in Carteret. 
The privately-owned liftboat Legs III continues to reside at the Palisades Yacht Club in Yonkers 
Susan Rose remained anchored off Yonkers 
Carolina Coast was back with the sugar barge Jonathan at the Yonkers Domino Sugar plant after a trip down to the Kill van Kull without the barge for service earlier in the week. 
The Hudson River Pilots boat Trenton was tied up at the Yonkers station as usual. 
Mister Jim had empty hoppers and a spud barge heading back to Coeymans and passing the Englewood Cliffs 
Back on the North River, Vane’s Charleston remained anchored off Grant’s Tomb for a third day 
…and remained there Sunday morning at slack tide 
Gracie M. Reinauer was heading north for Newburgh with a cargo Saturday before sundown 
The small cruise ship Amera (small for a cruise ship, but still 600’ long!) was docked at Pier 90. Amera has been on a round-the-world tour, leaving Nice on December 22 and sailing east, and leaving New York with a plan for arrival in Germany on April 26 Sunday night. 
The small bunkering tanker Lesney Byrd visited Amera on Sunday morning 
Amera headed for New England en route to Europe on Sunday evening with assist from JRT Moran 
The tanker Harbor Fashion headed back to sea Saturday evening after heading upriver for Albany earlier in the week. At the time we assume Harbor was carrying refined products for delivery up there, but she looked to be drawing more on the way back out, signaling Halifax, so possibly they loaded ethanol up north for export to Canada. 
Curtis Reinauer returned from Albany with a light barge Sunday, made a U-turn around midtown and then went back to anchor off the West Side 
Also on Sunday, Marilyn George headed for Albany with a cargo, passing a DonJon tug with a load of scrap heading for Jersey City. ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Fuel moves north, cement moves south
Good Friday saw limited traffic on the North River, though some barges were moving early. The Rotterdam remained at Pier 88 for a second day, preparing to sail for Holland where she will join a celebration for the 150-year anniversary of the Holland-America Line. Late in the day, the bulk ship SSI Magnificent came up the North River late in the day, signaling Cementon, NY after spending some time tied up at the Lehigh Cement facility in Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Catskill NY plant had been shutdown for years but seems to have been reopened as a dry cement import terminal, similar to the Brooklyn Navy Yard facility.
Coral Coast brought a load of cement down from Lafarge’s Ravenna plant, heading for the cement terminal in Flushing Bay, Queens. 
Vane’s Cape Fear was heading north with an oil products cargo And passed Coral Coast on one whistle 
Vane’s Philadelphia left Yonkers anchorage where they had spent the past few days before sundown 
SSI Magnificent heads to the Cementon terminal in Catskill NY with dry cement manufactured in Turkey, after a stop at the Brooklyn Navy Yard 
Holland-America’s Rotterdam sailed for Europe after two days at Pier 88 
Jonathan C. Moran got the assist -
Going back for more sugar
Thursday brought typical ATB and tanker barge traffic, as well as the departure of the large sugar barge Knot Refined heading back to Florida. Temperatures climbed sharply and a layer of haze covered the North River for most of the day before burning off in late afternoon.
Ruby Coast had the large sugar barge Knot Refined on the wire, heading out to see and returning to Florida for more product after discharging cargo at the Yonkers Domino plant. 
Diamond Coast trailed behind, likely having assisted with departure from the Yonkers dock, and also signaling Palm Beach 
Carolina Coast followed a bit later, also coming down from Yonkers after arriving from Florida the day before. Carolina headed for the Kirby dock on the Kill van Kull 
Curtis Reinauer headed north with a cargo loaded in Carteret, passing the anchored Janice Ann Reinauer with a contrasting light barge. Janice Ann later headed to the Arthur Kill, likely to load new cargo. 
Susan Rose came up the River late in the afternoon, heading for an anchorage, probably off Yonkers were the Rose boats tend to hang out 
Buchanan12 was on their usual daily trip back with light hoppers 
The NYC DEP’s water quality monitoring boat, the Osprey, was on the River in the afternoon. 
As was the NJ State Police’s patrol boat 
The Holland-American Line’s Rotterdam arrived early Thursday from Florida. Rotterdam was transiting from winter sailing grounds in the Caribbean to spend summer in Northern Europe. She is scheduled to sail Thursday evening with passengers heading for the Netherlands. ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Returning light
Traffic on the North River remained heavy Wednesday after a busy Tuesday. Most observed barges were returning empty from deliveries elsewhere, but a foreign flagged tanker did move upriver heading for Albany with refined product from Montreal. This is the fourth presumed foreign oil products cargo observed by NRN over the past month or so, and the second from Montreal, with the other two originating in Northern Europe. A steady rain and cooler temperatures blanketed the region Wednesday after Tuesday’s beautiful spring conditions.
Portuguese flagged tanker Harbour Fashion headed for Albany with a likely cargo of refined petroleum products from the refinery in Montreal 
Dann’s Sapphire Coast brought a light cement barge back from New Haven, heading for the Lafarge plant in Ravenna, NY. 
Coral Coast was close behind, pushing a light cement barge of its own from the Lafarge College Point, Queens terminal, also heading back to Ravenna. 
Janice Ann returned from a run up to Boston and anchored off 72nd Street to await a new cargo. Nicole Reinauer came down in the opposite direction from Newburgh and anchored north of the Janice Ann. 
Vane’s Charleston returned from a delivery to Port Jefferson and anchored north of Nicole. 
Discovery Coast with its distinctive ‘wedding cake’ tower came downriver after one their occasional deliveries to New Hamburg, NY and headed for a pier on the Brooklyn waterfront. 
Marilyn George returned from a delivery to Newburgh just before sundown 
A pair of Centerline tugs arrived early Wednesday with a bunkering barge for one of the two Norwegian Cruiseline ships which pulled in before sunrise, the Gem and the Getaway 
A Vane Brothers tug also was on bunkering detail, barely visible in the late morning fog. Both Gem and Getaway were heading back to the Caribbean by late afternoon. 
DonJon’s Meagan Ann was working DSNY’s Pier 99 transfer station, hauling paper waste to Staten Island for recycling. 
Buchanan12 was on their usually daily rounds, towing crushed dolomite barges to be exchanged off Jersey City 
These geese chose their next site well, in a fence-protected area above a DEP combined sewer outflow portal 
Cormorants were at their usual posts ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Tuesday traffic
After a slow start to the month, Tuesday brought some notable traffic to the North River, including some overseas cargos heading upstate on foreign flagged vessels. Pier 88 was also busy as the city’s Economic Development Corporation assembled some working boats from the Harbor for what seemed to be a career day for local students. The Coast Guard even brought one of their Jayhawk choppers down from Cape Cod to do an air/sea rescue demonstration.
The bulker Stoja headed for Coeymans Tuesday morning, arriving from Garrucha, Spain, which means the cargo is likely to have been gypsum. Tuesday afternoon saw the Royal Wagenborg ship Warnowborg heading for Albany, arriving from Sweden with a likely cargo of wood pulp for paper mills up north. 
The 70’ NYPD launch PO Jeff Herman was at Pier 88 for the EDC’s career day event. 
As was the Coast Guard Cutter Penobscot Bay and two of the NYC DEP’s water quality boats. 
DonJon’s formidable Douglas J. Was representing the private sector 
On the north side of the pier, FDNY Fireboat 343 was joined by the Marine Battalion Chief’s small boat and the Captain Brian McAllister from the private side. 
A Jayhawk from Cape Cod demonstrated rescue recovery off Pier 86 
Stasinos Marine’s Cargomaster, a dry bulk barge not seen by NRN before, came down from Tomkins Cove on Sunday with unknown cargo 
Dann Marine’s Ruby Coast left the Domino plant in Yonkers and headed for Caddell Dry Dock on Staten Island on Tuesday morning 
American Petroleum’s Stephen B headed north with a small barge on Tuesday 
Kristy Ann left anchorage off Edgewater and headed for the Upper Bay on Tuesday 
Gracie M Reinauer remained anchored off the Boat Basin 
Buchanan12 made their usual trip south with quarried crushed stone 
DEP’s Red Hook hauled sludge away from the North River Plant on Tuesday, heading for the centrifuges of Hunts Point 
The newer Rockaway tanker was doing the honors on Sunday 
Monday saw the Vane Brothers’ Philadelphia anchored off 72nd Street. with what looked like a loaded barge. Philly later relocated to the Yonkers anchorage. ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
The Calm After the Storm Before the Storm
North River anchorages filled up Friday night and Saturday morning as a weather system moved through on the first day of April. Saturday afternoon brought gorgeous dry and warm conditions, but this was expected to fuel renewed significant deterioration as a cold front comes through in the evening and a gale warning was in effect.
The 1970 vintage Stephen Reinauer anchored off 72nd Street in the early Saturday hours, but headed back towards the harbor before the weather rolled in Saturday afternoon. 
Gracie M. Reinauer anchored a bit further north of Stephen 
Vane’s Philadelphia rolled in Saturday morning and anchored north of Gracie 
B. Franklin Reinauer was through traffic, pushing a partially loaded barge towards Albany Saturday 
Patrice McAllister spent Friday anchored off the North River treatment plant, with her usual heads/tails configuration to her tow 
Patrice headed for the Harbor Friday afternoon 
Buchanan12 headed north with empties on Friday 
And returned with their usual load of crushed dolomite on Saturday 
Everly Mist had a darker colored mineral cargo coming down from up north 
Vane Brothers tugs were in position with a bunkering barge for Norwegian Gem Friday morning 
Gem headed out Friday afternoon on another Bermuda run 
American Petroleum’s small pusher tug Diane B headed north with a tank barge on Saturday afternoon 
Pinuccia returned from Newburgh with a light barge Saturday 
DonJon Marine had a load of recycling heading for the paper mill on Staten Island Saturday Canada geese are on their nests now, with a new spring crop of goslings on the way -
Power move
Thursday afternoon saw the Dutch flagged cargo ship Floretgracht come down the North River from Albany on the way out to sea. The vessel had arrived earlier in the week from Northern Europe carrying steel cable spools according to the Port of Albany’s Twitter feed. The spools are for the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a new transmission line being constructed to bring clean energy generated upstate and in Canada down to New York City. Other traffic on the River this week has been more typical. As we head into the final days of March, days continue to begin cold, even below freezing on Friday morning, but the spring sun warms us as we move into afternoon.
Floretgracht heading back to sea Friday after delivering steel for the Champlain Hudson Power Express to the Port of Albany 
Floretgracht passed the anchored Reinauer ATB Josephine 
Josephine had arrived late Wednesday and dropped anchor 
Earlier in the week, CMT’s Mister Jim headed north with what looked like sand, passing the anchored Dean Reinauer 
The tug Pegasus ran light up to Yonkers on Wednesday morning to help Topaz Coast leave the dock at the Domino Sugar Plant with the barge Montville 
Janice Ann Reinauer came back from Albany overnight, killed some time on the River, and then headed for the Harbor. 
Kirby’s Cape Canaveral spent some time on the River Thursday after returning from a run up to Providence 
Pinuccia had a products cargo heading north Thursday 
A good looking mallard couple were looking for breakfast Wednesday ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Primavera
Norwegian Cruiseline’s Prima, launched last summer, arrived on the North River for the first time this year on Tuesday on a deadhead run from Port Canveral. Prima called here in October of last year and ran a few cruises from Pier 88 before heading south to Florida for the winter. She loaded passengers and headed out for a 7-day Bermuda run. Prima will make a few cruises out of New York before heading to Europe for Reykjavik-Southampton runs over the summer. Observed commercial traffic has been light so far this week.
A pair of Vane Brothers tugs brought a bunkering barge for Prima 
Fort Schuyler maneuvered the barge alongside 
Prima headed south well before sundown 
Monday evening saw Discovery Coast heading north, passing a down bound Gracie Reinauer on two whistles. Discovery spends most days in the Harbor on bunkering runs, but this week she was heading upstate with a cargo. Gracie was returning from Albany. 
Ruth Reinauer also headed south Monday after returning from Albany with a stop in Newburgh 
Dean Reinauer remained anchored off the Boat Basin for a third day through Tuesday. 
Patrice McCallister left her anchorage off Yonkers and headed for the Upper Bay, with her barge heads-to-tails on the hip, her usual configuration when the barge is light. In the background, a third big tower is going up in the Journal Square area of Jersey City. 
Jordan Rose also left anchorage off Yonkers and headed south 
William F. Fallon arrived on the River from the Riverhead Terminal off the North Shore of Long Island and anchored. The barge appeared at least partly loaded, despite returning from a delivery point. 
Josephine began Monday anchored off Edgewater… 
…but headed for the Upper Bay at midday 
The Coast Guard 65’ small harbor tug Hawser headed south on Tuesday, traveling without AIS broadcast for the past month. 
A Coast Guard Dolphin chopper made a run up the River Monday afternoon, probably flying from its base in Atlantic City. -
Light Sunday
Traffic was light on the North River on Sunday after the Saturday rush. A trio of Reinauer ATBs occupied the anchorages at sunrise, while several tugs with barges were also anchored off Yonkers. Warming temperatures made it a good opportunity to try out the newly reopened North Walkway over the GWB, which allows for a much improved bike access from the River. Winds were moderate to gusty out of the west.
Dean Reinauer remained anchored off 72nd Street Sunday 
Josephine was further north, near Edgewater 
The Haggerty Girls were anchored in between, but pulled up the hook and headed for the Shell terminal at Sewaren by 10am. 
Cape Henry, which had arrived from Philadelphia and anchored off Yonkers Saturday night with a loaded barge, passed the anchored Dean Reinauer and headed for Bayonne IMTT Sunday morning, seemingly bringing product north from the Delaware. 
Over on the Jersey side, the Palisades Park marinas are still mostly empty, but the Parkway Police keep a RIB at the ready in Englewood Marina 
The Beatrice is anchored off Yonkers, with the old New York Central Glenwood power plant visible in the background 
Patrice McCalister was anchored a bit to the south, with the College of Mount Saint Vincent visibl in the background 
Jordan Rose was anchored a bit further north 
The Hudson River Pilots boat was tied up at its usual spot near the downtown Yonkers recreational pier 
Dann’s Topaz Coast had the sugar barge Montville tied up at the Domino plant in Yonkers after coming up the coast on Saturday 
Schuylkill, seen just Thursday heading north with a loaded barge, was heading north again after quick turnarounds 
Brant were seen off Riverside Park in the 100s 
The Baylander was back at the 125th Street Pier with what looked like a fresh coat of paint, just about 3 weeks after being towed to a dry dock on Staten Island. 
DEP’s Red Hook was servicing the North River sewage plant 
A paddle boarder was out near the Bridge 
As was a kayaker
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 