Commercial Shipping on the New York State Canal System

The New York State Canal System is a 524-mile long, commercially viable waterway connecting the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and Lake Champlain. The federally improved route between Waterford and Oswego provides a vertical clearance of at least 20 feet under normal conditions, but no more than 21 feet. Other routes provide a vertical clearance of at least 15 feet under normal conditions, but no more than 15.5 feet, except on the Champlain Canal, which has a clearance of 17 feet. The controlling depth on the Erie Canal between Waterford and Oswego is currently 11 feet.  The controlling depth on the Champlain Canal is currently 9.5 feet. The controlling depth on the western Erie Canal is currently 9 feet. The controlling depth on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal is currently 8 feet. Efforts are underway to return the Canal System to its published depth of 14 feet from Waterford to Oswego and 12 feet elsewhere. Tables with exceptions to published depth can be obtained by calling (518) 471-5016, or found on the New York State Canal Corporation website here.

Several commercial towing companies serve the New York State Canal System.  Shippers can obtain a registration permit for a tug and barge fleet for $750 per navigation season by calling (518) 471-5016.  Regular hours on the Canal System are 7 AM to 10 PM daily, with shorter hours in the early spring and late fall. The navigation season generally runs from early May to the middle of November.

The locks of the New York State Canal System have a usable length of 296 feet and a usable width of 44.45 feet. The Canal Corporation recommends a beam of no greater than 43.5 feet. Every lock on the New York State Canal System is equipped with a capstan for the purposes of double locking. Several Canal terminals remain available for commercial use, but with little or no infrastructure for loading and unloading cargo. A list of these terminals is available by calling (518) 471-5016. A variety of Aids to Navigation mark the channels of the New York Canal System, with the vast majority of these aids being unlighted. Products still shipped on the Canal System include pre-fabricated rebar caissons, liquid calcium chloride, radar dome material, commercial paper dryers, aggregate, turbines, commercial boilers, transformers, and other over-sized cargo.

Call (518) 471-5016 for more information about commercial shipping on the New York State Canal System.

Commercial Shipping

Permit Fees

All commercial vessels navigating the Canal System must file an "Application for Canal Commercial Operator" with the Canal Traffic Agent.

The annual fees for commercial operators to navigate the Canal System are:

Passes can also be purchased through the mail by submitting the following application:

APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL PERMIT - (TA-W91049, PDF, 2 pages/420 Kb).