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History Blog

Tugboats in Winter

2/4/2017

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Picture
Cornell Steamboat Company tug Hercules attempting to keep a channel open in the Hudson in a severe winter, ca. 1906.
Tugboats are, and long have been, the workhorses of the Hudson River moving needed cargoes up and down the river in large quantities more cheaply than by other means.  Today the tugs move bulk cargo like fuel oil, cement, crushed rock, and scrap metal.  In earlier times the cargoes were somewhat different, but tugs have been needed going back well into the 19th century.  Since demand for many products is year round, the tugs must work all year including during the winter when ice can freeze the river entirely. 

​Since about the 1940s, the U.S. Coast Guard has kept a channel open on the Hudson during winters of heavy ice.  However, before that time, heavier commercial tugs from companies like Cornell were used as icebreakers in their home areas.  As the accompanying photo shows, in severe winters in the early 20th century, even the best icebreaker tugs were not able to keep a channel open in the Hudson.
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    Author

    This blog is written by:
    Allynne Lange, Curator Emerita;
    Carla Lesh, Collections Manager & Digital Archivist;
    ​Sarah Wassberg Johnson, Director of Education

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Hudson River Maritime Museum
50 Rondout Landing
Kingston, NY 12401

​845-338-0071
fax: 845-338-0583
info@hrmm.org

​The Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. ​

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  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • News >
      • "Fo'c'sle News"
    • Board
    • Opportunities
  • Visit
    • Docking
    • Rondout Lighthouse
    • Field Trips
    • Group & Bus Tours
    • Exhibits
    • Area Attractions
  • Events
    • Lecture Series
    • Local History Tours
    • Museum Mates
    • Visiting Vessels
    • Keeping History Afloat
    • Sailing Conference
    • Meet the Museums
    • Escape Room & Scavenger Hunt
    • Brightwork >
      • Sponorships
    • National Boatbuilding Challenge
  • Education
    • For Kids
    • Hudson River Stewards
    • YouthBoat
    • Sea Scouts
    • Group & Bus Tours
    • Lecture Series
    • Local History Tours
  • Research
    • Research Requests
    • Collections
    • History Blog
    • Online Exhibits
    • Submerged Resources Project
    • Pilot Log
    • Hudson River History >
      • Henry Hudson
      • The Hudson River
      • Sloops of the Hudson River
      • Robert Fulton
      • Hudson River Steamboats
      • New York Canals
  • Classes
    • All Classes
    • Boatbuilding
    • Woodworking
    • Foundations of Woodworking
    • Sailing
    • Instructor Training
    • YouthBoat
  • Boat School
    • Sailing & Rowing School
    • Instructors
    • Instructor Training
    • YouthBoat
    • Sea Scouts
    • Restoration
    • RWBS Library
    • RWBS Blog
    • Boats for Sale
  • Support
    • Join
    • Museum Store
    • Pilot Gala
    • Volunteer
    • Boat Donations
    • Artifact Donations
    • Planned Giving
    • Our Sponsors
  • Donate Now
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