For Immediate Release: August 2, 2005
CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FIRST OVER-SIZED CARGO OF 2005
NAVIGATION SEASON SHIPPED VIA CANAL SYSTEM
Troy, New York-Based Tugboat Company to Move Cargo Shipment to Ontario
Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today announced that the first over-sized cargo of the 2005 navigation season will be shipped on the New York State Canal System the week of August 1.
“This important milestone is proof that the Canal System remains a key transportation artery through New York State, and demonstrates why commercial shipping will continue to be a primary focus of the Canal Corporation,” said Mantello. “We will continue Governor Pataki’s long commitment to making major infrastructure improvements along the Canal Corridor, so that this historic waterway can continue to serve as a catalyst for economic growth throughout the State.”
Throughout the week, two massive turbines will be shipped from the Port of Albany by barge through the Canal System to Ontario for use in the power generation industry. One of the turbines was built by General Electric Power Systems in Schenectady, and the other turbine was rehabilitated at the Schenectady facility and will be put back into service.
“Albany has great historic ties to the Canal, and this shipment through the Canal System is indicative of the great things we’ll do together in the future,” said Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings.
Lockwood Marine Inc. of Hampton, VA and NYS Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy, NY will be moving the over-sized cargo shipment. Marine Highway Transportation Company, formed in 2004, now specializes in marine transportation on the New York State Canal System. Formerly, the company had specialized in towing and salvage in conjunction with operations at the Troy Town Dock and Marina, according to majority owner Michelle Hayes.
“We read the tea leaves and saw that commercial utilization of the Barge Canal was coming back,” Hayes said. “We wanted to be ready with the equipment, the staff, and the vision to provide professional marine transportation services throughout New York as this trend continues.”
Hayes and co-owner Captain Rob Goldman formed the company after the canal towing part of the marina business continued to grow at a surprising rate.
“I have a few excellent customers, and expect more as the price of fuel and inherent complications associated with other transportation options compel more and more companies to consider shipping by Canal,” said Goldman. “This is the best and most efficient transportation network in the state – and the economics bear that out.”
The tugboat “Margot” will be pushing the barge “Lockwood 1000” with the load of turbines. The Margot is expected to be in Waterford the evening of Tuesday, August 2, in Fonda the evening of Wednesday, August 3, in Rome the evening of Thursday, August 4, and in Oswego the evening of Friday, August 5. For information on the exact location of the load during the transit, contact Capt. Rob Goldman at (518) 365-3305.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Canal Corporation and an interagency task force will conduct an outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations will be delivered in a report to the Governor by December 2005.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
For more information about commercial shipping and tourism along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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