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Less common traffic
Conditions have deteriorated as the week has progressed following the Washington’s Birthday holiday, with Wednesday bringing rain and hail, though still no measurable snow. Traffic on the River has included some vessels seen less often, though activity has been generally light.
Genesis Vigilant was heading for Rensselaer on Tuesday afternoon 
Genesis Glory was heading in the same direction about 24 hours later 
Reinauer’s B. Franklin, one of the smaller Reinauer ATBs seen less often on the River, was anchored off 72nd Street. 
Norfolk’s George Holland continues to fill in for Buchanan12 on the Clinton Point quarry run this week 
Haugland’s brought a stone cargo down from the quarry in Catskill to the Bay Ridge anchorages on Wednesday 
Dann’s Coral Coast brought a load of cement down from the Lafarge Ravenna plant Wednesday 
Sound Marine’s workboat continues to make daily runs down to the Harbor from their HQ at the North River Shipyard in Nyack. 
A Statue of Liberty ferry was heading the opposite way up to the North River Nayack yard on Tuesday for some work. 
The Army Corps’ Gelberman was on the River Wednesday. 
The new moon early in the week brought a rather high tide -
Buying in bulk
The dip down to freezing on Saturday was short-lived, with temperatures climbing back to just shy of 50 again on Sunday. River traffic remained moderately heavy, with the third bulker of the weekend coming through Sunday. The Reinauer Twins remained anchored off 110th Street for a third day.
The Genco Auvergne, a 625-foot long bulk ship was heading for Albany, arriving from Morocco after a stop in Maine. Auvergne looked high in the water, and a pick-up of scrap at Sims Metal seems a good guess, though we will see where she docks up north. 
Fort Schuyler came through early Sunday, returning from Kingston and heading for the Arthur Kill 
The Reinauer Twins remained anchored off Edgewater for a third day 
Nicole Reinauer returned from Newburgh with a light barge and was overtaken by a Coast Guard 45’ response boat 
Saint Emilion passed us Friday on the way south with the Edwin Poling barge. That barge then went north Saturday with the Kimberly Poling. Sunday, Saint Emilion was heading north again with its usual A87 barge. The Evelyn Cutler tug remains offline, or at least off AIS. 
Haugland Group’s Emma Rose, acquired by the company last year, came south from Haugland’s Tompkins Cove port with a deck barge, heading for the former Kinder Morgan terminal on the West Shore of Staten Island. The site is a brownfield being remediated and there have been reports that it is being considered for wind turbine assembly operations. 
The DEP tanker Port Richmond was heavily loaded, carry sludge from the North River plant to the Passaic Valley treatment facility in Newark for dewatering 
A Red-breasted merganser couple were hanging out off Pier i 
A fiery sunset ended the weekend -
Substitutes
Skies cleared Saturday and temperatures slowly climbed back above 40 amid bright sunshine. A bulker came through in the morning, heading out to sea after delivering a cargo of gypsum from Garrucha, Spain to the wallboard plant in Buchanan, NY. At sunset, another bulk ship came through heading north for Coeymans with unknown cargo, or perhaps light heading to pick up scrap.
Traffic was otherwise typical, but two of the regular tugs operating on the River seemed to be out of service and had substitutes working.
Norfolk Towing’s George Holland brought crushed rock down from the Clinton Point quarry. Normally, this is Buchanan12’s job, but B12 is currently docked on Richmond Terrace on the KvK 
Kimberly Poling had a cargo heading north towards Albany. The barge, Edwin Poling, came through Friday going the other direction light being pushed by the Saint Emilion. Most often we see this barge with Evelyn Cutler, but Evelyn has been off AIS for 9 days and last pinged from the Caddell boatyard on the KvK. 
The bulker Ultra Cory was heading for sea after unloading a cargo of Spanish gypsum at the wallboard plant in Buchanan. 
Doris Moran returned to the Harbor after helping Ultra Cory leave the dock up in Westchester. 
Doris was followed by Kimberly Turecamo which also provided assistance up there. 
CMT’s Daisy Mae was coming the other way, heading for Coeymans with a raft of hoppers loaded with what looked like salt and stone. 
Norwegian Getaway left at sunset after arriving at sunrise, heading for Bermuda and the Bahamas 
The NYPD provided an escort as usual 
Getaway passed the arriving Thor Madoc on the way out, the 1000 foot cruise ship making the 600 foot bulker look small in comparison 
Thor Madoc was heading for Coeymans, arriving from the Mediterranean with unknown cargo or perhaps picking up scrap or other material for export 
The FDNY’s large Three Forty Three boat and one of the small FDNY boats spent some time on the River off Weehawken 
A Coast Guard 29’ boat was also on the River 
DonJon Marine’s Meagan Ann was taking the recycling out at Pier 99 
Dean Reinauer returned from Newburgh with a light 400’ barge 
Reinauer Twins remained anchored on the River with a 400’ barge of their own. 
A Huey helicopter with the livery of the USAF 1st Helicopter Squadron, which typically flys VIPs and dignitaries around DC, flew up the River, about 200 miles away from its Andrews AFB HQ. ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Wet close out
Warm weather persisted through the end of the work week, but Friday brought periods of heavy rain and cooling temperatures. North River anchorages were busy Friday morning as a blanket of fog sat over the region.
Reinauer’s Josephine remained anchored in the River with her loaded barge, shifting up north closer to the Bridge. By late morning Friday, however, Josephine was heading for the NuStar terminal in Linden, the same destination we have seen other loaded barges anchoring in the River heading for this year, and there does seem to be some connection between that facility and the shift towards tugs more frequently anchoring in the North River with loaded barges.
Gracie M. Reinauer, Reinauer Twins and Josephine Reinauer anchored in the River Friday morning; Josephine’s barge is loaded and lower in the water than the other two. 
The loaded barge was more clearly visible later in the morning at slack tide 
Josephine later pushed the cargo south towards the NuStar Linden terminal More typical traffic late in the week was mainly tugs with light barges returning after making early week deliveries up north
Quenames, seen Wednesday heading north for Newburgh with a cargo, returned Friday with the tug looking lighter and headed for the Shell terminal in Sewaren 
The Beatrice, seen heading north with cargo on Tuesday, also returned with their light barge Friday and docked at the Homeport pier in Stapleton 
Saint Emilion was pushing a Poling-Cutler barge, coming down from Albany and heading for Carteret. The Edwin Poling barge is often paired with the Evelyn Cutler tug, but Evelyn has been off AIS for 8 days and last pinged in the Caddell boatyard, so perhaps she is having some work done. 
Vane’s Elk River arrived off Pier 88 early ahead of its bunkering customer, the Norwegian Gem and stemmed the tide… 
…waiting for Gem to dock with assistance from James D Moran. Gem normally does not need tug assistance for docking, so perhaps there was some technical issue or the fact that she was coming in at peak flood tide meant she needed some help. 
James D was positioned on the upriver side as the River was at peak flood 
Another Vane tug was visible, waiting to help position the bunkering barge 
Gem was on her way before sunset, leaving without tug assistance just after slack tide and heading for the Caribbean 
Late Wednesday, Paula Atwell, a tug we have not seen before on the North River, had a hopper on the wire heading for Kingston and the Rondout Creek before dropping off AIS. We have seen Norfolk Towing’s Paula before moving Covanta waste containers on the East River. 
Coast Guard 29’ boats were doing drills on the River Thursday 
Kayakers took advantage of the warm weather Thursday to get out on the water early. -
Anchoring heavy
The balmy February has continued into the Ides of the month, with temperatures climbing into the 60s midweek. The River has been busy, with two-way traffic and active anchorages.
The year so far has been unusual in terms of weather, but also because of an increased number of tugs anchoring with what appear to be loaded barges. Normally we see loaded barges moving on the River, but rarely at anchor, with a few exceptions usually coinciding with extreme weather. But this year we have seen a number of barges anchored which appear to be fully loaded, riding low in the water, including Reinauers RTC 83 with its tug Josephine this week. There is likely some simple operational reason or reasons for this shift in behavior, but for observers from the shore there is not anyway to know what it is.
Josephine at anchor Wednesday with what appeared to be a loaded tanker barge. 
Timothy L Reinauer was anchored further north with a light barge, more typical of anchoring ATBs 
The contrast was evident as Timothy headed for the Harbor Wednesday afternoon, passing Josephine and RTC 83 
Moran’s Barney Turecamo was anchored on the River Wednesday as well. This is the first time we have seen Barney on the River since October. 
Vane’s Pocomoke remained on the River through Monday but was on their way by Tuesday. 
The Beatrice was heading north, Albany-bound with a cargo Tuesday 
Quenames had a cargo heading for Newburgh Wednesday 
Nicole Leigh Reinauer returned from up north with a light barge Tuesday 
Kristin Poling returned from New Haven with a light barge Wednesday and proceeded to anchor north of the Bridge. 
DonJon’s Paul Andrew, not a tug we have seen before on the River, was servicing the DSNY facility at Pier 99 on Tuesday 
Dann’s Carolina Coast was running light, headed up to Yonkers at midday Wednesday, perhaps to assist with barges at the Domino sugar plant 
Later, Diamond Coast was also heading in that direction 
A number of Coast Guard 29’ response boats headed back to their Staten Island HQ after drilling up near the Bridge Wednesday 
The NYPD also had a number of boats on the River Wednesday 
As was the Army Corps’ Gelberman 
And FDNY Marine 8 
A Coast Guard Dolphin chopper made a patrol up the River from its Atlantic City base Wednesday as well. 
MHT’s Nathan G was pushing hoppers north Wednesday ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Weekend warriors
The weekend brought pleasant weather with temperatures in the 40s and occasional periods of gusty wind. River traffic seemed rather light. By the end of the weekend Vane’s Pokamoke and Gracie Reinauer were anchored off the Upper West Side.
Vane’s Elk River came south past the Palisades Friday afternoon, and spent the remainder of the weekend moving around the Harbor. 
A Reinauer ATB was also returning to the Harbor as the sun set Friday 
Saturday morning saw Vane’s Fort Schulyer heading north with cargo 
Dann’s Treasure Coast came down from the Lafarge plant in Ravenna NY with a loaded cement barge, heading for the Bayonne cement terminal 
By Sunday afternoon, Treasure was transiting Hell Gate en route to Lafarge’s College Point terminal in Flushing 
Janice Ann Reinauer was also transiting Hell Gate Sunday afternoon, en route to Providence with a cargo 
Coming the other way returning from Port Jefferson was Vane’s Brooklyn, a smaller tug not seen on the North River, with her smaller size perhaps making her better suited for these North Shore runs. 
Pocomoke was anchored on the River Sunday morning 
Gracie M. Reinauer was a bit further north 
Similar to last weekend, Buchanan 12 came south without its usual retinue of hopper barges, but this time heading for the Caddell Drydock on Staten Island, perhaps in need of some work. 
This survey vessel came up the North River pinging AIS as Half Moon but no further information was available. By Sunday, Half Moon appeared to be doing survey work on the East River, between the UN and Gantry Plaza Park. 
One of two large FDNY fireboats, the Three Forty Three, made a loop up the River on Saturday. 
NJ State Police’s Jersey City-based boat was also on patrol Saturday 
Someone got birthday wishes on Sunday 
Kayakers and paddle boarders enjoyed the warm weather Saturday -
Mellow Midweek
Pleasant temperatures, light winds and occasional showers characterized the middle days of the first full week of February. River traffic was largely unremarkable. The William F. Fallon Jr and Gracie Reinauer anchored in the River Tuesday but by Thursday, Fallon was on their way to the Riverhead Terminal on the north shore of Long Island after a stop in Bayonne, while Gracie was on the KvK. Anchorages were empty all the way up the River, with Saint Emilion having left its spot off Yonkers to load new cargo.
William F. Fallon was anchored Tuesday. 
Gracie Reinauer was anchored further south 
Saint Emilion was at its usual spot off Yonkers Wednesday, but headed out for new cargo on Thursday 
An Tuesday morning ferry heading back to Edgewater 
Buchanan12 was back in its usual service Tuesday after a what appeared to be a day working the harbor 
Dean Reinauer returned from a delivery in Newburgh Wednesday evening 
Elk River headed north with a cargo 
CMT’s Daisy Mae brought hoppers south from Coeymans Thursday 
Kayakers and paddle boarders were enjoying the unseasonable warmth 
The duck probably couldn’t care less 
A Marine Super Stallion helicopter flew up from McGuire AFB in Lakeland, NJ, made a loop north of the Bridge and returned 
Marine attack helicopters were also over the River Thursday and Friday ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Passing pleasant
The first full work week of February arrived with unseasonably pleasant conditions as temperatures remained in the 40s with moderate wind out of the north. The day opened with Kristy Ann still anchored off 72nd Street and Janice Ann Reinauer holding off Edgewater on her way back from Newburgh. But by the end of the day, Janice Ann was heading for Carteret while Kristy Ann was chugging down the Jersey Shore en route to the Delaware River refineries where she will presumably load new cargo. The sun set with clear anchorages all the way up to Yonkers for the first time in a while, and with only Saint Emilion at anchor off Yonkers. Norwegian Getaway arrived at Pier 88 just before sunrise and was heading south again by sunset.
Kristy Ann at anchor off 72nd Street Monday morning before heading for the Delaware River at midday 
Janice Ann killed most of the day off Edgewater on her way back from Newburgh 
CMT’s Helen came down from upstate with hoppers loaded with stone and gravel 
Buchanan12 looked naked Sunday night, coming south without their usual entourage of gravel hoppers. B12 spent the evening and Monday working New York Harbor, suggesting perhaps the Tilcon Clinton Point quarry might be off line for a bit. By the end of the day Monday, though, they were heading north again. 
Norwegian Getaway returned from a 5-day Bermuda roundtrip and was refueled with help from Vane’s Cape Fear… 
…as passengers headed for Pier 88 and new provisions were loaded. By sundown, Getaway was off again, heading for a 12-day roundtrip to Barbados and the Dominican Republic. 
A small survey boat was taking measurements between Pier 86 and Pier 84 Monday morning ©2024 Daniel Katzive Uncategorized -
Freezing spray
Temperatures troughed just after sunrise Saturday in the low single digits across the New York City area, but climbed steadily through the rest of the weekend as winds abated. The cluster of tug/barge combinations on the North River began to break up as conditions improved and visitors went back to work. By Sunday evening, Kristy Ann was the only vessel left at anchor in the River.
Sapphire Coast normally pushes cement barges back and forth to the Lafarge plant in Ravenna, but Friday night she brought a 300’ tank barge up to anchorage off 72nd Street from the harbor for safe keeping during the gale. 
Around midday, Sapphire handed her barge off to Chesapeake Coast, a pusher tug more commonly assigned to tanker barges which had road out the storm at pier on the Staten Island north shore. 
Chesapeake stayed put with the barge until sunrise Sunday when they headed for the Kill van Kull. 
Dean Reinauer pushed its 413’ barge down to the Reinauer dock in Port Richmond Saturday morning after riding out the storm on the North River. 
Followed closely by the nearly identical Dylan Cooper, passing the Sapphire Coast still in place behind its barge at that point 
Vane’s Elk River escaped the gale with its loaded barge, spending Thursday and Friday off Spuyten Duyvil, but on Saturday they headed for Cateret where they likely finally discharged a cargo which had originated at the refineries on the Delaware River south of Philadelphia. 
Kirby’s Cape Henry returned from Providence Saturday morning with a crust of ice on the bow of their barge, a frosting which boats anchored on the River avoided. 
Henry made a long loop up to Yonkers, but did not linger, instead heading to anchorage in the Harbor as conditions improved and the ice line receded from her bow. 
A pair of Reinauer ATBs at anchor Saturday morning 
By Sunday morning, Curtis remained uptown, with the DEP’s Red Hook tanker seen in the background making a right turn into the North River sewage plant dock. 
Curtis left the River Sunday around midday pushing their 350’ barge 
Only Kristy Ann was anchored off 72nd Street by the end of the day Sunday 
Gracie Reinauer was heading for Newburgh Sunday with a cargo from Bayonne and an ice coating on the bow of her 400’ barge after spending the night at anchor on the Upper Bay 
Reinauer’s Matthew Tibbetts had a loaded barge bringing an oil products cargo to Poughkeepsie. Matthew is one the smallest tugs in the Reinauer fleet and one of the few without ATB couplings. Shallow draft at the Poughkeepsie pier may be the reason why Matthew does this run. 
Ice was accumulating on the shoreline Saturday but there have been no large flows on the River yet this year. The Coast Guard’s Sturgeon Bay icebreaker has been operating between Kingston and Albany, so perhaps we will see some soon. 
The smaller icebreaker, Line, was heading back to the Bayonne base though, after spending four days working from Poughkeepsie 
A Cape Cod-based Jayhawk came down from Falmouth Saturday along the south shore of Long Island, made two loops around Manhattan, then landed at Teterboro for a bit before flying back to base over the Sound. 
A 35’ NYPD launch patrolled on Sunday 
A smaller NYPD boat was moving south later in the day 
New Jersey State Police’s Jersey City-based boat was also on patrol 
DonJon had a load of paper heading for recycling from Pier 99 Saturday 
Recreational activity was out of the question for most of the weekend, but a kayaker got out Sunday as temperatures climbed above 40 -
Winter gales
Temperatures plunged below freezing just before sunrise on Friday and fell below 20 F by sundown. Gale warnings were in effect for the harbor as the NOAA weather station at Robbins Reef lighthouse in the Upper Bay clocked gusts above 50 knots. With Upper Bay anchorages unappealing, a crowd of tanker barges took up residence on the North River. By Friday morning there were 4 Reinauer ATBs south of the Bridge. Timothy Reinauer left after sundown and headed for the Caddell dock on the Kill van Kull but was replaced by Kristy Ann who dropped anchor after sundown on her way back from Albany. Centerline’s Adeline Marie spent Thursday evening in the Upper Bay but by Friday afternoon headed for calmer waters, briefly stopping at 72nd Street and then joining Choptank north of the Bridge, with the latter having been there since Thursday with a loaded looking barge.
A quartet of Reinauer articulated tug/barge combinations at anchor Friday afternoon 
The Reinauer armada at anchor Friday evening
Source: MarineTraffic
Centerline’s Adeline Marie left the Harbor Friday afternoon, made an attempt at anchoring off 72nd, but then headed for more sheltered waters north of the Bridge for the evening. 
The Choptank remained anchored with a loaded looking barge off Spuyten Duyvil through Friday, with the Englewood Palisades providing a backdrop 
Dann’s Diamond Coast was running light heading for the Caddell dock on the KvK after spending the night in Yonkers. Diamond likely assisted East Coast leaving the Domino Sugar plant after sundown Thursday as she headed out to sea and south, and then helped Ruby Coast dock her barge there at sunrise Friday after the latter arrived from Florida with more raw sugar Thursday and anchored off Yonkers overnight. Robbins Reef lighthouse weather station off Bayonne recorded a 54 knot gust at 17:36 local time. Source: NOAA
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 