News Articles
Press coverage and stories about NYS Marine Highway and the revival of commercial shipping on New York's canals.
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Cable Transfer Barges to Lake Champlain Bring Clean Energy to New York
Edna A leads a critical infrastructure operation moving undersea cable barges through the canal system to Lake Champlain.
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Tugboat Margot sails to (hopefully) stop ice jams on Mohawk River
WNYT NewsChannel 13 reports on the Mohawk River ice pilot: tug Margot works between Lock 7 in Niskayuna and Lock 8 in Rotterdam, breaking ice before it can jam and flood riverside communities. The piece describes a partnership among the New York Power Authority, New York State Marine Highway, and the New York State Canal […]
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Photos: Tugboats parade on the Hudson River in Waterford
Times Union photo coverage documents tugboat traffic on the Hudson River in Waterford and highlights local maritime activity around tugboat events.
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Waterford, NY Tugboat Roundup celebrates 25th anniversary
WorkBoat reported on Waterford’s 25th anniversary Tugboat Roundup, including the recognition of NYS Marine Highway’s Sarah D as Tug of the Year. The coverage highlights the event’s role in celebrating regional maritime heritage and tug operations on New York waterways.
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State Pilot Program Uses Tugboats to Mitigate Ice Jams on Mohawk River
NYS Marine Highway’s tugboat fleet is the first step in a $300 million NYS Power Authority initiative to protect Mohawk River communities from ice-related flooding. The pilot program, announced in early 2021, deploys commercial tugs to break up ice jams before they can cause damage. Historically, ice jams on the Mohawk have led to sudden […]
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A Shipping Rebound on New York’s Canals
GlobalSpec detailed a rebound in New York canal shipping, highlighting annual commercial tonnage growth and renewed use of the system for freight movement. The piece points to the strategic value of canal transport for specific cargo corridors and projects in the state.
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Stone-Moving Tugboat Fleet Leads New York Canal Renaissance
A landmark 2016 contract with Azzil Granite Materials sparked rapid fleet expansion for NYS Marine Highway and signaled a commercial revival on the Erie and Champlain canals. For decades, commercial shipping on New York’s canal system had declined. Truck and rail had captured most of the freight. But the economics of moving stone — friction […]
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On Erie Canal, Commerce Sails Into the Past
The New York Times reported on the Erie Canal’s continuing commercial role, highlighting how specialized freight still moved by barge despite decades of broader decline. The 2008 piece looked at the economics behind canal transportation and the operators still using the route for heavy and bulk cargo movements.
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