Here is an aerial shot of New York harbor during the “Parade of Sail”, an event that officially marks the start of Fleet Week in New York.

This years event, which goes from May 23-30, is taking on special significance as it commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812. During the parade, six Navy ships, three Coast Guard cutters, 12 coalition ships from around the world sailed under the Verrazano Bridge and into New York harbor.

This photo was taken Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leona Mynes and can be viewed in Hi-Res HERE.

The world's first commercial-scale and grid-connected tidal stream generator located in Northern Ireland. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today issued the United State’s first-ever pilot project license for a renewable tidal energy project to be located in New York City’s East River.

The project, called the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy project or RITE project for short, will generate up to 1,050-kilowatts of electricity via NYC’s East River currents through turbine generators mounted on the riverbed.

“Issuing a pilot license for an innovative technology is a major step in the effort to help our country meet our renewable energy goals,” FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said. “FERC’s pilot process is doing what it should: allow for exploration of new renewable technologies while protecting the environment.”

Despite a number of entities bidding for the license issue, NYC’s East River apparently fit the bill. In order to be eligible FERC says the project needs to be small, short-term and located in an environmentally non-sensitive area, among other things.

FERC first developed the pilot license process in 2008 in order to allow developers to test new hydrokinetic technologies (tidal, wave and inland) in order to determine appropriate sites for the technology and confirm its environmental effects. NYC Upper East Side Realtor Michael Coy says they have seen a growing interest in such projects since its inception, with a total of 3 entities with applications already submitted and another 9 in pre-stages of the application process.

FERC adds that it has issued an additional 100 preliminary permits to study the feasibility of developing a specific project.

The RITE project is owned by Verdant Power and will be operated for 10 years.

New York Harbor, image (c) Robert Almeida/gCaptain

By Kevin J. Walsh

The World Trade Organization estimated that the United States of America imported $1,936 trillion worth of goods in 2010 (WTO, 2010), more than any other single nation in the world, and only $41 billion dollars less than the entire European Union.  Roughly 95% of those goods were transported to the United States on ships.  In the 21st century, marine transportation systems have become complex, just-in-time operations that have been perfected by centuries of experience.  There are many steps in the global supply chain, including planning, procurement, development, warehousing, and logistics, which lead to the delivery of the final product to the end user. At some point, the global supply chain will encounter the international maritime transportation system, and cargo will be carried in a container or in bulk form (liquid or solid) on a ship.

Pictured above is a snapshot of ships, tug boats, and ferries in New York Harbor, being identified by Automatic Identification System (AIS)

When these ships cross the threshold of New York Harbor they are entering one of the busiest seaports in the world.  In 2009 it was ranked the 23rd largest port in the world based on total cargo volume.  The American Association of Port Authorities ranks the Port of New York/New Jersey as the third busiest port in the United States, based on total imports and exports by weight (American Association of Port Authorities, 2010).  New York Harbor is the largest port on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and it supports the most densely populated metropolitan area in North America. The journal of Commerce recorded that 4,811 ships entered the harbor in 2010, carrying over 32.2 million metric tons of cargo valued at over $175 billion (Leach, 2011).  As such, New York Harbor is the backbone of the Northeast Region of the United States, and is considered a port of critical importance for commerce and national security by the U.S. Federal Government.

Almost 80% of all the cargo imported into the port of New York/New Jersey is marketed to consumers within 100 miles of the port, making it a critical element of the regional economy. Safe and efficient maritime commerce is essential to the growth and stability of this huge transportation hub. With so much vital transportation infrastructure surrounding the harbor such as Newark Liberty International Airport, the extensive railroad systems for Norfolk Southern and Conrail, the container terminals at Port Elizabeth, Port Newark, and the New York Container Terminal on Staten Island, the immediate area surrounding the port makes New York Harbor an ideal and desirable transportation destination.  There is no other locale in the country that has more transportation infrastructure available to sea port facilities.  Aside from the 693,031 cars, trucks, and buses the port imported in 2010, it also boasts having handled 5,292,020 loaded twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU’s) (Leach, 2011) more commonly called containers, in the same year.

Another major commodity imported into the port is bulk oil, both crude and refined products as well as chemicals.  The Bayway refinery operated by ConocoPhilips is one of the largest on the East Coast and its production levels directly impact fuel prices in the region.  Tankers carrying crude oil from St. Johns, Nova Scotia or the West coast of Africa are almost a daily presence in the harbor.  The US Energy Information Administration states, “The New York Harbor area between New York and New Jersey has a petroleum bulk terminal storage capacity of over 75 million barrels (much of which is in New Jersey), making it the largest petroleum product hub in the United States (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2009).” In many instances loaded tankers carrying the oil that is so critical to our national security, pass in and out of the harbor with only 2 feet of clearance between the hull of the tankers and the bedrock at the bottom of the harbor.  Ship captains rely on the skill and judgment of harbor pilots to ensure the safe navigation of the vessel so that the cargo can be safely transferred to shore side facilities.

Although the system that is employed in New York Harbor is nearly flawless, there are still several issues that are being addressed by the local Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and elected officials from both states.  One problem that many ports are facing is the limited depth of the port’s navigable channels.  Currently, New York Harbor is dredged to handle vessels with up to a 45-foot draft.  As economies of scale are being maximized, vessels are getting larger with deeper drafts, and are approaching the 45-foot limit.  The Port Authority has plans to dredge current channels to 50 feet to accommodate the larger vessels.   With the completion of the New Panama Canal expected in 2014 many East Coast ports are scrambling to obtain new infrastructure large enough to handle the influx of these colossal ships.  The Panama Canal is expecting to double its traffic once the new locks are completed.  The “New Panamax” size for vessels will be 1,200 feet long, 160.7 feet wide, and 49.9 feet deep.  An additional restriction is that vessels must have less than a 190-foot air draft.  The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is expecting container ships that can carry up to 12,000 TEU’s.

Another major obstacle for the Port of New York/New Jersey is the limited air draft of the Bayonne Bridge. Constructed in 1931, the engineers and architects who designed the bridge never could have imagined the size of cargo ships that would be destined for the Port.  In the past few years several ships have struck the bridge because its 151 foot air draft is simply too small for the larger class ships that are calling on the port.  In some instances vessels must wait for low tide to gain a few more feet of air draft so that the mast or antennas do not strike the bridge.  The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey has announced plans to construct a new span over the existing bridge increasing the height of the air draft to 215 feet. This will allow the new class of ships to pass safely into Newark Bay and the massive container terminals, which are located on its shores.  The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey has already earmarked $1 billion for this project, and the total cost is expected to reach over $3 billion upon completion of the new bridge.  Global Terminal, however, has a strategic position within the port that allows ships to avoid contending with the Bayonne Bridge, and its terminal operators are taking advantage of it.  Global has recently submitted a  “permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to expand its existing wharf to 4,000 feet, long enough to develop a four-berth container port.  Jim Devine, President and CEO of Global, said the project is needed to ensure the port, which generates $36 billion in annual business activity, stays competitive beyond 2014 when larger container ships will be in use (Hack, 2011).” With industry professionals and state and local politicians actively addressing the hurdles that face the Port of New York/New Jersey, the continued growth of the port is ensured, as well as the economic and national security issues of the surrounding region.

As the leading marine transportation hub on the US East Coast, New York Harbor is attempting to play catch up to ensure that it will remain the premier maritime transportation destination on the East Coast of North America.  With its current place set within the global marine transportation field, these new improvements will drive the port among the elite of the world.  New York Harbor is already rich with maritime history, and with the continued support from the State Governments of New Jersey and New York, and a strong backing from the Port Authority, there will be many more centuries of maritime history to be written.

Kevin Walsh is a 2005 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and holds a B.S. in Marine Transportation, and an M.A. from the American Military University in Transportation and Logistics Management.  He is currently employed as a New Jersey State Pilot Apprentice at the Sandy Hook Pilots Association. 

References

American Association of Port Authorities. Port Industry Statistics. October 22, 2011, http://www.aapa-ports.org/Industry/content.cfm?ItemNumber=900

Hack, Charles. (October 14, 2011). Global Terminal, which straddles Bayonne-Jersey City border, to double wharf space so it can accommodate big container ships. October 23, 2011,

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2011/10/global_terminal_which_straddle.html

Leach, Peter T. (March 3, 2011). Port of NY-NJ Containers Jumped 16 Percent in 2010. The Journal of Commerce Online – News Story. October 22, 2011, http://www.joc.com/maritime/port-ny-nj-containers-jumped-16-percent-2010?page=1

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (October 2009). New York. Independent Statistics and Analysis. October 22, 2010, http://www.eia.gov/state/state-energy-profiles.cfm?sid=NY

World Trade Organization. (March 26, 2010). Trade to expand by 9.5% in 2010 after a dismal 2009, WTO reports. International Trade Statistics. October 22, 2010, http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres10_e/pr598_e.htm

Photo © 2009 New York Shipping Association.

The following are the results of a study that was conducted to provide updated estimates on the economic impacts that the Port of New York and New Jersey has upon the region in an attempt to educated policymakers, decision makers and citizens about the importance of the industry.  The results of the study, as you can imagine, should turn some heads.

More than 279,200 jobs generated by activity in the Port of New York and New Jersey, according to a study released today. The independent economic impact study of port operations, prepared by A. Strauss-Wieder Inc., of Westfield, New Jersey, showed that jobs directly associated with port activity increased by nearly 3.5 percent, despite turbulent economic conditions, since the last time a similar comprehensive economic impact analysis was conducted in 2008. The assessment also shows the significant economic value that the port and maritime industry has and continues to generate through investments in the Region’s maritime infrastructure and through the capital markets.

The analysis was prepared for the New York Shipping Association, Inc. (NYSA) and New York Maritime, Inc. (NYMAR) and reflects the economic impacts associated with the port and maritime industry in New York and New Jersey as it operated in the year 2010. The report summarizes the maritime movement of goods and people through the region, the substantial capital investments that have and continue to be made in the region’s port infrastructure, and the extent of the maritime-related capital market activity that occurs in the New York-New Jersey area.

“This study, commissioned by the membership of NYSA and NYMAR shows us how the cargo and passengers flowing through the terminals of the Port of New York and New Jersey positively impact the economy of the region. The employers and employees of the port community support the businesses and population of the largest and wealthiest consumer market in the world. Further, the public and private sectors have collectively invested billions of dollars to enable the Region to handle the growing amount of international trade. We have a state-of-the-art Port and, through our investments, have also generated significant and ongoing economic value,” said Joseph C. Curto, President of the New York Shipping Association.

“The significant results of this study make it very clear that the maritime industry continues to play a critical role in the business of this region. We are an international hub of maritime movement and maritime related investment businesses and both directly through the movement of goods and services, and through the ship owning, banking, insurance and legal infrastructure which exists in New York to support the global maritime-related investment businesses. The combination attracts international companies to our cluster,” said Peter Shaerf, Chairman of NYMAR.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast, the third largest port in the United States by volume, and the second largest in value; serving more than 35% of the entire population of our country.

General highlights of the study show that port operations provide:

• a total of 279,200 full-time jobs in the NY-NJ region;
• 170,770 direct jobs
• $11.6 billion in annual personal income;
• Nearly $37.1 billion in annual business income
• Almost $5.2 billion in federal, state and local tax payments

The purpose of the study is to update the estimate of economic impacts of the port upon the region, thereby educating policymakers, decision makers and citizens about the importance of the industry. In addition, the report describes how the investment of public agencies and private industry invested substantially in the port since 2006, resulting in state of the art facilities, deeper channels and multimodal access to North America. It also takes into account the aggressive capital program planned for the port region and the jobs and revenue anticipated from that work.

“Ocean shipping is the most economically efficient, safest and environmentally sound method for the shipment of import and export cargo. Because of its efficiency and continued relative obscurity people generally do not see the benefits,” said Curto. “This study hopefully will continue to bring awareness and support for the continued use and development of this port, and for using the region as a nexus for corporate location and activities. The capital investments in this industry from within New York in both the private and public domain are substantial and should hopefully make people more aware of the vitality of our industry” Shaerf concluded.

In a possible attempt to make a profound statement, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that modern art pop icon, Peter Max, has been commissioned to design the hull artwork for the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled for delivery in April 2013. This is the first time Norwegian has asked a well-known artist to paint the hull artwork on one of its ships. The company also announced today that the ship will homeport year-round in Max’s hometown, New York City.

Although this may be a first for Norwegian Cruise Lines, this is not the first for the maritime industry.  In 2006, Osaka Gas commissioned Comedian-turned-painter Jimmy Onishi to design monster-sized psychedelic murals for their 950-foot LNG vessel Dreamtanker and countless other companies have experimented with hull art, most with insipid – or plain ugly – results.

But banality is not a signature of Max who is know for his eccentric use of colors and patterns, a psychedelic style of art referred to in the art community as “Cosmic Brownies”. He has also been called a Pop Icon, Neo Fauvist, Abstract Expressionist and the United States’ “Painter Laureate.” Some experts refer to him as this country’s greatest living artist but like the ship itself, Max was not born in American. As a German Jew born in 1937, he and his family escaped the Nazis in 1938, arriving in America after first living in Shanghai, Israel and Paris…. experiences which greatly enriched Peter’s appreciation of art.

“Since Norwegian Breakaway will be making her home in New York, we felt it was fitting to ask the artist best associated with New York, Mr. Peter Max, to paint the ship’s hull,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “I am a huge fan of his work and know that the art he creates for Norwegian Breakaway will make the ship instantly recognizable.”

While many artists would scoff at the idea of painting a big, box-shaped, steel ship, Peter Max is excited by the idea. “I love painting large canvases.” He said. ” I’ve painted a plane and a stage for Woodstock, but never a ship. I love ships and have travelled on them many times in my life. To see my artwork floating on Norwegian Breakaway out at sea will be a dream come true.”

Peter Max

Max has achieved his place in history having painted for various Heads of State, including six U.S. Presidents. From art that appeared on the first U.S. 10-cent stamp bearing the title “Preserve the Environment,” to 235 U.S. Border murals greeting millions of people entering America each year, Peter Max seeks to capture themes of America at its finest in his art.

Max also has a long-standing career turning commerce into works of art. Currently his art appears on a Boeing 777 jumbo jet currently flying the skies for Continental; a 600-foot stage for the Woodstock Music Festival; the covers of Verizon’s New York City yellow and white pages; and a giant mural unveiled at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Max has also been the Official Artist of five Super Bowls, six Grammy Awards, The World Series, the United Nations Earth Summit, and numerous other countless other events.

The 144,017 ton vessel is reported to have 4,000 passenger berths and was named with the idea to give passengers a “break away” from the routine of work and daily stress to find respite at sea. The Norwegian Breakaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Getaway, scheduled for delivery in April 2014 but has yet to be assigned a city.

The ship also comes with the support of New York politicians which have been actively recruiting more ships since signing a homeport agreement with Disney Cruise Line in April. The Breakaway will dock at the 50th Street Cruise Terminal in Manhattan and, as the largest cruise ship to ever call the city home, is estimated to bring to New York over 40,000 passengers and and $35 million in direct spending over the next two years.

“It boils down to one word, jobs” said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “By making New York City home to its newest and largest ship, Norwegian Cruise Line is further confirming our standing as a top cruise destination and a place that tourists from around the world want to visit.”

While the towers burned and collapsed on 9/11, a half million people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan by a civilian flotilla of ferries, tug boats and other vessels—the largest boatlift in history.

via captainrande

The Maritime Administration has released a new video in honor of the merchant mariners that responded to the September 11th attacks, evacuating hundreds of thousands from lower Manhattan and bringing valuable supplies and resources to first responders at the World Trade Center.

“The story of merchant mariners coming to the aid of those in need on September 11, 2001 is an inspiring one,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “On that terrible day, our nation’s seafarers, with courage and selflessness, transported hundreds of thousands of people out of harm’s way to safety.”

The Maritime Administration says that more than 300,000 people were evacuated by water from lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks in what was the largest unplanned water evacuation in the history of the United States.

“The men and women of the New York and New Jersey merchant maritime community provided a beacon of light on one of the darkest days in our country’s history. They were among the heroes running toward danger and exemplify what it means to be a U.S. merchant mariner,” said U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.

Via Maritime Administration