HUDSON RIVER BARGE MUSEUM

LANDING SITE EVALUATION

The Barge is designed to be self-contained with displays, classrooms, restrooms, HVAC and its own electric power generation.  Because so few sites have landing facilities or docks designed to handle large boats, the Barge is designed for stopping  where there are limited facilities and is equipped with “spuds” to moor it slightly offshore, with a gangway to transfer passengers to and from the landings or shore. With the barge weighing over 500 tons, this mooring system enables us to transfer passengers even though the shore facilities are only adequate for smaller boats. The Museum Barge need not be tied to any shore facility and will not transfer any loads to a shore docking facility. It will draw less than 6’ of water and can rest on the bottom at low tide.

Twenty two landing sites have been assessed, sounded and found suitable, giving most of the population along the Hudson River access to the Museum.

 Other sites were found to be unsuitable and there are additional unevaluated sites that might be found acceptable and used for future Museum Barge landings. As funds become available and we contact schools, and municipalities express an interest, we will add more or different sites to our schedule.

 As additional funds become available, landing sites on the NY Canal system, Long Island and Staten Island can be evaluated so the Museum Barge will reach more of New York’s population 

Four of the listed landing sites must be modified, if used. Cold Spring and Tarrytown have not used their bulkheads for any boating. If gates were provided in railing/fencing, the Museum Barge would schedule stops. In addition, the resulting accommodation of commercial day boats would enhance the inflow of tourism dollars to the downtowns. 

Submerged piling must be removed in Beacon.

The home port at the Ferry Dock in Beacon must be constructed. Old piling must be removed in the mooring area and shore facilities must be constructed.

 Note: When more of the municipalities along the river upgrade their landings to accommodate large boats, water based tourism can be promoted.  Manhattan and/or Albany are a short trip away and tourism in the downtowns along the river would be enhanced if the commercial day boats were to schedule stops. Only 9 of the listed sites can now accommodate large boats and this use has not been promoted with rare exception.

 HUDSON RIVER LANDINGS

Sites were chosen for evaluation based on geographical location and their proximity to population centers and access to schools.

 With the Barge designed for landings in marginal locations, the following criteria were evaluated at each site that made it to our final list:

 1.  Is there a dock or bulkhead designed to land a vessel – 140’ x 40’ weighing over 500 tons? (A no here does not disqualify the site. The barge is designed to be self contained and can moor with its spuds, independent of shore facilities)

2.  Will the river bottom accept the spuds used to moor the barge, in the absence of a suitable landing place with bollard or piling tie offs?

3.  Is there a minimum of  7’ of water at high tide most of the season?

4.  Can the Barge locate close enough to a landing spot to set the gangway?

5.  What will the shore side end of the gangway rest on?

6.  Is there room to accommodate shore side, program related displays?

7.  Will the public have access within walking distance of parking or the downtown?

8.     Are there shore side restrooms available to supplement the Barge’s own? (A no here does not disqualify the site)

 Sites were visited and soundings taken with a lead line to measure water depth in the mooring area and at the approach to the mooring area.  Names and phone numbers of the persons responsible for each site are listed.

South Street Seaport, Chelsea Pier, the landing at the port of Albany and the 79^th Street Boat Basin were designed to accept large vessels by reservation and do not need extensive evaluation. 

All other sites were visited, some more than once,  to be evaluated.