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Port of New York - Harbor of Ice

During this current winter's extreme cold snap, we thought you might enjoy seeing New York harbor during the current as well as previous winters. Large ice floes initially make their way slowly down the Hudson River and into New York harbor. During certain times the river ice piles up within the slips between the piers of "Luxury Liner Row" on Manhattan's West Side. At other times due to tides, the ice moves about, sometimes quite rapidly, in the Upper Bay, East River and North River. The following images span various periods, starting with today and then moving back in time. We plan to expand this essay and continue adding more photos of the current ice conditions in the port.

For those interested in following current conditions click on the link below, choose a view and click within the picture to move the webcam. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING WEBCAMS: http://www.esbnyc.com

THE HUDSON ~ A RIVER OF ICE - JANUARY 2003

Ice conditions in the North River January 28, 2003. The NY Waterway West 38th Street ferry terminal is at the center, bottom of the photograph.
(A view from the Empire State Building webcam.)

HUDSON RIVER ICE - SATURDAY JANUARY 25, 2003

A series of photographs taken by Ted Scull.

ice

Sailings cancelled on this Saturday at the Circle Line pier at West 42nd Street.

Classic fireboat JOHN J HARVEY iced in at the Chelsea Piers.

World Yacht dinner boat sailings are cancelled at West 41st Street.

The following photographs show ice conditions at the NY Waterway ferry terminal at West 38th Street. Three private tugs and one from the U.S. Coast Guard were on hand to keep the NY Waterway service between Weehawken and West 38th Street running this Saturday afternoon.

NY Waterway is just beginning a new project to construct a modern ferry terminal at this location.

Two private tugs, and the Coast Guard ice breaker, partly hidden by the right slip, break up the ice and maintain an open channel.
Not seen to the right is the tug DAUNTLESS whose prop wash keeps the slip ice free. The vessel in the left of the photo may be part of the new terminal construction project

Tug moves to allow ferry to dock.

As tug moves aside, ferry approaches slip.

NY Waterway ferry approaches slip.

NY Waterway ferry docks.

NY Waterway ferry returns to Weehawken. (Photographs taken by Ted Scull - January 25, 2003.)

UPPER NEW YORK BAY

Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island ferry. (Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

Staten Island ferry crossing Upper Bay. (Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

Staten Island ferry slip snow - 1982. (Ted Scull collection - April 6, 1982)

Staten Island ferry deck snow - 1982. (Ted Scull collection - April 6, 1982)

VIEWS OF THE EAST RIVER

Coast Guard ferry crosses from Governors Island. (Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

McAllister tug in the East River. (Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

Tanker PATRICIA N GELATLY in the East River.
(Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

McAllister tug in the East River. (Ted Scull collection - January 22, 1994)

FIVE VIEWS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 ~ JANUARY 18, 1981
IN THE NORTH (HUDSON RIVER)

It appears that one could walk across the ice right to the ship.

The bow of QE2 as she backs into the river.

The 1981 World Cruise begins in the icy North River.

The powerful steam turbines in action.

The strong river current moves her stern downstream as QE2 begins to turn with the help of a tug on her port bow.
(Five QE2 views from the Ted Scull collection.)