FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FIRST OVER-SIZED CARGO OF 2006
NAVIGATION SEASON SHIPPED VIA CANAL SYSTEM
Troy, New York-Based Company to Move GE Turbine Rotors to Ontario, Canada
Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today announced that the first over-sized cargo of the 2006 navigation season will be shipped on the New York State Canal System beginning on Monday, June 12th. Three massive industrial turbine rotors, worth over $35 million, are being transported through the Canal System by barge because they are too large and too heavy to be transported over land.
“The Canal System continues to serve as a key transportation artery through New York State, which is why commercial shipping will continue to play a key role in the future of the Canal Corporation,” Director Mantello said. “We will continue Governor Pataki’s long commitment to improving this historic waterway, so that the Canal can continue to serve as a catalyst for economic growth throughout the State.”
The turbine rotors were built by General Electric Power Systems in Schenectady, and transported by rail to the Port of Albany. The water portion of the journey began at the Port of Albany last fall, when the turbines were moved to Norfolk, VA for winter storage. Once the barge reaches the Canal System, the turbine rotors will be shipped from the Port of Waterford by through the historic waterway to Bruce, Ontario on Lake Huron for use in the power generation industry.
Lockwood Marine Inc. of Hampton, VA and NYS Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy, NY are collaborating on the movement of the cargo. NYS Marine Highway Transportation Company, formed in 2004, now specializes in marine transportation on the New York State Canal System.
“Each year our business on the Canal continues to grow as the price of fuel and inherent complications associated with other transportation options compel more and more companies to consider shipping by Canal,” said NYS Marine Highway President, Capt. Rob 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 turbine rotors. The Margot is expected to arrive in Waterford the evening of Friday, June 9th, and spend the weekend re-provisioning before resuming the voyage. 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 conducted 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 were delivered in a report to the Governor in 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 cultureFor more information about tourism attractions along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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