Tag: USCG
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Welcome to ice season
Coast Guard Sector-New York’s official ice season began Monday, requiring vessels to check in with the Coast Guard VTS before heading north of the Bridge. It is still too early, of course, to see actual ice on the River, but there was some snow north and west of the city Monday morning after Sunday’s drenching…
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Looking for a ship
A blanket of thick fog sat over the river for almost the whole of Wednesday, with visibility ranging from poor to worse than poor. At sunrise it was practically pea soup, such that a bulk freighter coming down from Coeymans was nearly completely invisible at less than 500 yards off the end of pier i…
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Another soaker
Tuesday brought another day of soaking rains, with temperatures in the 40s and light winds, swinging around from northerly to southerly. The brand new MSC cruise ship Seascape remained at Pier 88 for a second day and will remain at least through Wednesday evening for a scheduled naming ceremony here. MSC is also celebrating commencement…
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Just visiting
The first full work week of December kicked off with clear skies, light winds and seasonable temperatures. The week brought two visitors to the passenger ship terminal area, with the Woods Hole-based 110’ Coast Guard cutter Tybee tieing up at the end of Pier 86 Monday morning for a one-day port call, and a brand…
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A soaker
Temperatures climbed Saturday but a soaking rain for most of the day and 15 knot southwest wind did not make for great vibes. Commercial traffic remained fairly typical, with a Royal Wagenborg wood pulp freighter heading for Albany the most notable ship of the day. A Coast Guard 29’ boat came up the River from…
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Search and Rescue
The Coast Guard demonstrated the service’s search and rescue capabilities on Pier 86 Thursday, ahead of Friday’s Veterans Day parade at which the Coast Guard will be the “featured service.” The Coast Guard brought in a Jayhawk MH60 helicopter, the Coast Guard version of the Blackhawk, and dropped a rescue swimmer in the water who…
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Parade of Ships
The Coast Guard will be the “featured service” at Friday’s New York City Veterans Day. In recognition of this, USCG organized a small parade of ships, entering the Harbor this morning and proceeding up to the passenger ship terminal. The flagship was the Cape May-based 154’ fast response cutter Lawrence Lawson, which docked at the…
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Moderating
Monday verged on outright summer, but by Tuesday the northeast was easing back into autumn, and a tropical storm is predicted to arrive this weekend. Saint Emilion left its North River anchorage, headed for the Arthur Kill and was in the Upper Bay by evening. Kimberly Poling was at anchor Tuesday morning, and was joined…
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Back from the shop and atypical moves
Saint Emilion was anchored in the North River Saturday. Saint Emilion is a regular on the New York Harbor to Albany route, but has been absent for several months, a period coinciding with her being hauled out for maintenance at a Bayonne boat yard (as well-documented in August by the Tugster blog). Otherwise, Saturday was…
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Protecting navigation
Two Federal government boats with cranes were on the River Thursday, from different agencies but with similar missions. The Army Corps of Engineers Hayward patrols for obstructions to navigation on or near the surface, including large tree limbs and trunks. The Coast Guard’s Katherine Walker services buoys which mark the navigation channel for large ships…
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Crisp and cool
Autumn colors and crisp conditions have continued into the weekend, though some rain is expected Sunday. Loaded tankers were heading north, probably mainly carrying heating oil, empty tankers, stone hoppers, and loaded cement barges came south, and leaf tours were also heading north.
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NATO in New York
October continues to provide stunning clear cool days as autumnal colors push south. A trio of NATO frigates arrived in New York Thursday, two Dutch and one Danish, and took up residence on the south side of Pier 88 following participation in NATO exercises. Commercial traffic has remained rather light.
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Still soaking
Tuesday was yet another day of cold temperatures, northerly winds and soaking rains. Observed river traffic was light, with even the cruise terminal devoid of ships and dredging activity. The Pocamoke left the river with its barge and headed for new cargo, while the Haggerty Girls remained off Edgewater. The Royal Wagenborg bulk carrier Edenborg…
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We’re here to help
Mid-week brought more beautiful weather, with temperatures rising from the 50s into the high 60s. Winds remained above 10 knots, but rotated a bit up to the northwest. Tanker barge traffic was lighter after Tuesday’s crush, with mostly empty barges coming south. Some light tugs were seen heading upriver, most likely on their way to…
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Some less familiar faces
Tuesday brought beautiful conditions once again, with pleasant temperatures and steady 15 knot southwest winds making for great sailing. Commercial tanker traffic remained steady and a few boats less often seen on the River were observed.
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HMS Richmond at the pier
Monday brought the Jewish New Year and beautiful fall weather, with temperatures climbing into the 70s after a cool start. The Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond remained tied up on the south side of Pier 88. In the morning, sailors and an officer could be observed doing some kind of formal drill, raising and lowering…
North River Notes 