Tag: tugs
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Weather coming
Tanker barges and tugs seem to be accumulating in the North River anchorages ahead of weather coming in Friday night. By sundown, Genesis Vigilant, Adeline Marie, Patrice McCallister, and Dean Reinauer were all anchored south of the Bridge, and Mount St Elias and Kimberly Poling were to the north. Gale warnings and coastal flood warnings…
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Tanker time
A foreign-flagged tanker moved up the River Thursday morning, arriving from Montreal and likely bringing a cargo of refined products from the refinery there. Most oil products move north on US flagged tanker barges pushed by tugs or articulated tug/barge combinations (ATBs), coming from the refineries and pipeline terminals in North Jersey or, sometimes, from…
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Snow at last
Snow finally arrived on the final day of February, bringing 1.8” of accumulation in Central Park and ending a record long winter snow drought. The powder did not last long though. With snow switching to rain and temperatures rising into the high 30s, there was little left on the roads for the evening commute. March…
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Finishing windy
Damp conditions prevailed through Thursday. By Friday, the sun was out, but a brisk 25 knot wind out of the northwest brought gale warnings to the harbor and put a good chop on the river. Thursday morning saw the B. Franklin, Genesis Glory, and William F. Fallon, Jr all anchored in the fog on the…
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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Special delivery
Thursday brought clear skies with temperatures in the 30s and 15 knot winds out of the southwest. Conditions are set to deteriorate as we move into the weekend, with temperatures dropping sharply. Small craft warning was in effect for the Harbor Thursday, and a gale warning goes into effect Friday. On the River, tanker cargos…
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Snow at last
Central Park recorded 0.4” of snow overnight into Wednesday morning, ending the record-breaking snowless winter streak. The dusting had all disappeared by midday though as temperatures climbed up above freezing. Meaningful cold is supposed to arrive Friday. Meanwhile, the River remains strangely bereft of traffic, with no tanker barge cargos observed moving upriver. Janice Ann…
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Presidential visit
Winter made an attempt on Tuesday, with temperatures dropping back into the 30s and snow flurries in evidence in the morning, though not with any accumulation. River traffic seemed strangely light, with a pair of tug/barge combinations at anchor in the morning and no cargos observed on the move. President Biden was in town, visiting…
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Sleepy Sunday
Weirdly warm temperatures persisted Sunday, and the city looks on track to set a new record of winter days without snow tomorrow. Winds started light but were gusting above 20 knots at Robbins Reef by the end of the day. Commercial traffic seemed very light, and even recreational activity was scarce despite the warm conditions.…
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Weird winter
The weird winter of 2023 continues, with temperatures climbing into the 50s and only the brisk 15 knot southwest winds providing a reminder of the season. A tanker barge cargo of what was most likely ethanol moved south en route to Boston, and stone hoppers were heading north.
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After the wind
Skies cleared and winds moderated Friday, setting up favorable conditions for the weekend. As conditions improved, the crowd of tug/barge combinations anchored on the River dispersed and went back to work. Haggerty Girls pulled up their hook just after sundown on Thursday and B. Franklin Reinauer was on their way before sunrise on Friday. Stephen…
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The West Wind
Skies cleared Thursday but gale warnings remained in effect in the Harbor as winds out of the west gusted to over 40 MPH. Some tug/barge combinations rode out the chop on the Upper Bay, but the North River anchorages filled up with ATBs returning from New England ports, with four boats anchored off Manhattan, another…
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Tanker traffic
Wednesday brought precipitation and even some snow flurries, but we remain without significant accumulation of snow this winter, rapidly closing in on a record. Winds remained brisk, and gale warnings went into effect for the Harbor Wednesday afternoon. Deteriorating conditions saw Norwegian Gem postpone her scheduled 4pm departure from Pier 88 until 3am Thursday, according…
North River Notes 