New York Daily Photo Analytics

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Working Harbor


It is easy to forget New York City's role as an important port and that the waters around NYC are still a working harbor with an enormous amount of maritime freight and traffic (over 12,000 ships per year). In researching for this post, I am always reminded of how much goes on behind those things which most of us know little about. Like tugboats and barges. But there is a world and a history here, even with tugboat buffs and websites. The tug in the photo navigating the East River, the Brendan J. Bouchard, belongs to the Bouchard Transportation Company of Melville, NY, an oil barging company. Most barges are not self-propelled and need tugboats to move them. And tugboats are highly maneuverable - they help make the sharp turns necessary to negotiate shipping channels and harbors such as that of New York's . McAllister and Moran virtually dominate the tugboat business in the New York waters. Click here for an interesting story about the recent efforts of tugboats to move the Intrepid to New Jersey for refurbishment - an initial failure followed by success ...

11 comments:

Deb said...

I enjoy reading your posts...and the photos are always so cool. Thanks for another informative piece on the New York City waterways!

Brian Dubé said...

Chris and Deb;
Thanks - I enjoy doing the posts, especially knowing readers enjoy them.
Brian

Anonymous said...

Great photo! I love all the colors.

My dad was a tugboat captain for his last few years in the Navy. It was always such a treat to go to work with him while he shoved all those big ships around. Thanks for reminding me of those days with this photo.

Anonymous said...

Your photos are so wonderful- it's great to see the hidden sights of New York. I'm visiting it for the first time in March, and I can't tell you how excited I am!
It looks truly beautiful!
Best wishes

Brian Dubé said...

Susan;
I would love to get aboard a tugboat in NYC waters! Imagine all the photo-ops.

a;
Thanks and hope you can use some of my suggestions.

Brian

Brian Dubé said...

Susan;
I would love to get aboard a tugboat in NYC waters! Imagine all the photo-ops.

a;
Thanks and hope you can use some of my suggestions.

Brian

Anonymous said...

I hope I'll be able to!

Anonymous said...

The red is so distinguish. Brilliant piece of photo.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous shot. This is one of the shames of Sydney that the harbour is ceasing to be used as a working port - all the port activity has moved a bit south.

John Nez said...

And the maritime commerce extends all the way up the Hudson to Albany.

I used to live in an old house overlooking the Hudson in Dobbs Ferry, and would regularly be asonished to look out and see a GIGANTIC freighter moving silently through the trees, just 300 yards offshore.

Tugboat traffic was more or less constant... and one soon came to recognize the sound of the chugging diesels as they slowly moved up and down the river.

Carlos Lorenzo said...

Amazing how the skyline matches the tugboat's upper contour.