View source for Port of Albany–Rensselaer

{{short description|Port in United States}}
{{Infobox port
| name                   = Port of Albany–Rensselaer
| image                  = PortOfAlbany.JPG
| image_size             = 
| image_caption          = View of Port of Albany–Rensselaer from the [[Corning Tower]]
| pushpin_map            = New York
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| pushpin_map_geomask    = yes
| pushpin_map_zoom       = 5
| country                = 
| location               = [[Hudson River]]<br />[[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Rensselaer, New York|Rensselaer]], [[New York (State)|New York]]
| coordinates            = {{coord|42|37|41|N|73|45|27|W|display=inline,title}}
| locode                 = US ALB<ref name="Locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (US) - UNITED STATES |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/us.htm |website=service.unece.org |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>   
| draft_depth = 38 ft.<ref name="fap-1"/>
| opened                 = {{Start date|1932}}
| operated               = Albany–Rensselaer Port District
| owner                  = 
| type                   = 
| sizewater              = 
| sizeland               = 
| size                   = 
| berths                 = 18<ref name="fap-1">{{cite web |title=Port of Albany, U.S.A. |url=https://www.findaport.com/port-of-albany-usa|website=www.findaport.com |publisher=Shipping Guides Ltd |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>
| wharfs                 = 
| piers                  = 
| air_draft              = 
| employees              = 
| leadershiptitle        = Commission Chairperson
| leader                 = Georgette Steffens
| blankdetailstitle1     = Secretary
| blankdetails1          = Dominic Tagliento
| blankdetailstitle2     = Treasurer
| blankdetails2          = Joseph E. Coffey, Jr.
| blankdetailstitle3     = Manager
| blankdetails3          = Richard Hendrick
| arrivals               = 
| cargotonnage           = 7,540,535 (2004)
| containervolume        = 
| cargovalue             = 
| passengertraffic       = 
| revenue                = 
| profit                 = 
| blankstatstitle1       = 
| blankstats1            = 
| blankstatstitle2       = 
| blankstats2            = 
| blankstatstitle3       = 
| blankstats3            = 
| website                = {{URL|https://www.portofalbany.us/}}
}}
The '''Port of Albany–Rensselaer''', widely known as the '''Port of Albany''', is a [[port of entry]] in the United States with facilities on both sides of the [[Hudson River]] in [[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Rensselaer, New York|Rensselaer]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. Private and public port facilities have existed in both cities since the 17th century, with an increase in shipping after the Albany Basin and [[Erie Canal]] were built with public funds in 1825.

The port's modern name did not come into widespread use until 1925; the current port was constructed in 1932 under the governorship of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] during the [[Great Depression]]. It included the largest grain elevator in the world at the time. Today the grain elevator is the largest in the United States east of the [[Mississippi River]]; the port has the tallest harbor crane in the state of New York.

The port has rail connections with the [[Albany Port Railroad]], which allows for connections with [[CSX Transportation|CSXT]] and [[CP Rail]]. It is near several [[Interstate Highway System|interstates]] and the [[New York State Canal System]]. The port features several tourist attractions as well, such as {{USS|Slater|DE-766|6}}, the only [[destroyer escort]] still afloat in the United States.

==Geography==
The Port of Albany consists of roughly {{convert|236|acre|ha}}, including about {{convert|202|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in Albany and {{convert|34|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in Rensselaer. It is {{convert|124|nmi|km}} north of [[New York Harbor]].<ref name=Facilities>{{cite web |title = Facilities: Terminal Description| publisher = Albany Port District | access-date = 2018-10-04 | url = https://portofalbany.us/index.php/facilities/terminal-description}}</ref> From New York Harbor to the [[Federal Dam (Troy)|Federal Dam]] {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Albany, the Hudson River is an [[estuary]] of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{cite web |author = Jeffrey S. Levinton | title = The Hudson River Estuary: The Basics | publisher = [[State University of New York at Stony Brook]] | access-date = 2009-01-03 | url = https://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/fc.1.estuaries.html}}</ref> The Hudson has a deep water [[shipping channel]] {{convert|400|ft|m}} across, and at Albany the river is {{convert|700|ft|m}} across with a maximum {{convert|31|ft|m}} fresh water draft and a mean range of tides of {{convert|4.7|ft|m}}.<ref name=Transport>{{cite web |title = Transportation Hub | publisher = Albany Port District | access-date = 2018-10-04 | url = https://portofalbany.us/index.php/about-us/location}}</ref> The port is at [[sea level]].

==History==
[[File:Albany Basin 1857.jpeg|thumb|220px|left|Map of the Albany Basin in 1857]]
[[File:Patroon Island - Before & After.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Albany Basin and [[Erie Canal]] before 1960 on left/[[I-787]]]]
[[File:Steamboat Square Albany, New York.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Steamboat at Albany in 1921, [[Dunn Memorial Bridge]] in distance]]

Since the founding of Albany in 1614 as a trading post, shipping has been important to its growth and prosperity. Furs (especially beaver), timber, and farm produce were important exports while European people and goods were shipped in. The [[Dongan Charter]], which established Albany as a city, made Albany the exclusive market town in the upper [[Hudson River Valley]]. From its beginning, the port consisted of hastily built docks built every spring and destroyed every winter by erosion, flooding, ice, and tidal action.<ref name=Colonial>{{cite web |author = Stefan Bielinski | title = River People in Early Albany: 1686-1800 | publisher = New York State Museum and the Colonial Albany Project | access-date = 2009-01-11 | url = https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/art/art-rpea.html}}</ref> Three city-owned [[dock (maritime)|docks]] were established in 1766,<ref>{{cite book |title = Collections on the History of Albany: Volume 1 |publisher = J. Munsell | author = Joel Munsell | page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_BdkRAAAAIAAJ/page/n212 166] | year = 1865 | access-date = 2009-01-09 | url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_BdkRAAAAIAAJ|quote = albany three docks. }}</ref> the northern and southern ones later being expanded into [[wharves]].

Many historically significant ships used Albany as their home port. ''Experiment'' left Albany in 1785 to become the second American ship to sail to [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The American Neptune: An "Experimental" Voyage to China, 1785-1787. |author=Paul E. Fontenoy |year=1996 |access-date=2008-11-30 |url=https://www.pem.org/neptune/voyage1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231201815/https://www.pem.org/neptune/voyage1.htm |archive-date=2008-12-31 }}</ref> In 1809 [[Robert Fulton]]'s [[North River Steamboat|''Clermont'']] became the first commercially viable [[steamboat]] when it left Albany and sailed down the Hudson to the city of New York. In 1825 a {{convert|4300|ft|m|adj=on}} long and {{convert|80|ft|m|adj=on}} wide pier was constructed {{convert|250|ft|m}} from, and parallel to, Albany's shoreline.<ref name=Welfare>{{cite book | author = William J. Novak | title = The People's Welfare: Law and Regulation in Nineteenth-century America | publisher = UNC Press | year = 1996 | isbn = 0-8078-4611-2 | access-date = 2008-12-20 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8vQWaL-dT0EC&dq=1825+pier+albany+basin&pg=PA139}}</ref> Along with two bridges the pier enclosed roughly {{convert|32|acres|ha}} of the Hudson River as the '''Albany Basin'''. The construction of the pier and bridges cost $119,980.<ref name=Treasury>{{cite book | title = Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States | author = United States Treasury Department | year = 1851 | access-date = 2008-12-20 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=G7XmSwnKL5wC&dq=albany+basin+1825+pier+4,300+feet&pg=PA413}}</ref> The basin was located where the Erie Canal, constructed between 1818 and 1825, met the Hudson River. The basin could accommodate 1,000 canal boats and 50 steamboat moorings.<ref name=Welfare/> Along the Erie Canal within the city's [[North Albany, Albany, New York|North Albany]] neighborhood private wharves and [[slipways|slips]] were constructed for use in the lumber trade, this soon became the large and prosperous [[Albany Lumber District]] of national importance. In 1860 Albany, along with nearby [[Watervliet, New York|Watervliet]] and [[Troy, New York|Troy]], was the largest lumber market in the state.<ref>{{cite web |title = Gazetteer of Albany, NY | author = J. H. French | year = 1860 | access-date = 2009-01-09 | url = https://history.rays-place.com/ny/albany-ny.htm}}</ref> The [[Maiden Lane Bridge]] was constructed in 1871 over the basin to connect Albany with the east side of the river, it was open to railroad traffic only.

The Albany Port District was established in 1925 under New York law Chapter 192.<ref name=Law>{{cite web|title=New York Law: Port of Albany 192/25. |publisher=Suspect.com |access-date=2008-11-30 |url=http://www.suspect.com/laws/New-York-Laws/Port-of-Albany-192.25/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103102227/http://www.suspect.com/laws/New-York-Laws/Port-of-Albany-192.25/ |archive-date=2011-01-03 }}</ref> This was only four years after the [[interstate compact]] that created the Port of New York Authority (later renamed the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]]). In 1932 Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt unveiled a modern port to replace the aging infrastructure of the Albany Basin and the lumber district along the Erie Canal in the North Albany neighborhood.<ref name=Guide>{{cite book | author = Federal Writers' Project | title = New York: A Guide to the Empire State | publisher = Oxford University Press | page = 727 | isbn = 1-60354-031-8 | access-date = 2009-01-09 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TmbOZd4D-ccC&dq=franklin+roosevelt+port+of+albany&pg=PA727 | year = 1949}}</ref> The port was constructed on around {{convert|200|acre|km2}} on [[Castle Island (New York)|Westerlo Island]] in the southern end of Albany along with approximately {{convert|34|acre|m2}} across the river in the city of Rensselaer. The grain elevator at the port, built during the original construction in 1932, was the largest in the world and as of 2008 is still considered to be the largest in the United States east of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=Energy>{{cite news|author=Eric Anderson |title=Energy fuels Port of Albany growth |date=September 21, 2008 |newspaper=[[Albany Times Union]] |access-date=2010-10-26 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6975209 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221214415/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6975209 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2013 }}</ref>
The area of Albany's original port (the Albany Basin) has been covered by [[Interstate 787]] and the Corning Preserve (Riverfront Park) since the very early 1970s.<ref>{{cite book | author = Don Rittner | title = Then & Now: Albany | publisher = Arcadia Publishing | page = 92 | year = 2002 | isbn = 0-7385-1142-0 | access-date = 2009-01-09 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qoXp3HgSweUC&dq=albany+basin+interstate+787&pg=PA92}}</ref> In 1979 remnants of the basin wall were excavated from the preserve's lagoon by Phillip Lord working for the [[New York State Museum]].<ref>{{cite journal
 |author=Denis Foley and Andrew Wolfe 
 |date=Fall 2008 
 |title=The Erie Canal: A 19th Century Transportation Innovation 
 |journal=NYSAA Newsletter 
 |volume=3 
 |issue=3 
 |pages=4 
 |publisher=New York State Archaeological Association 
 |url=http://nysaaweb.bfn.org/newsletter/newsletter_fall08.pdf
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428042556/http://nysaaweb.bfn.org/newsletter/newsletter_fall08.pdf
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2011-04-28
}}
</ref>

A Master Plan adopted in 2000 called for the port to be transformed into a [[container port]],<ref name=Comptroller/> which led to the purchase of the largest harbor crane in the state. In 2002, the Port District Commission took the lead in the development of Albany's Riverfront Park in the Corning Preserve as part of a development to enhance Albany's access to the river. The port helped in financing the project and in the construction of two bulkheads which have seasonal floating docks attached.<ref>{{cite web |title = Waterfront Development | publisher = Albany Port District | access-date = 2010-10-26 | url = https://www.portofalbany.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=67}}</ref> In a 2005 audit, the [[New York State Comptroller|Office of the State Comptroller]] questioned the port's involvement in the construction and financing. Two issues raised were the port district's lack of authority to build docks for non-commercial use and that the port would receive no income for facilities it was financing.<ref name=Comptroller/> The port received $3.3&nbsp;million in 2002 to upgrade and become a member of the [[Inland Distribution Network]], a select group of ports that are used as satellite locations for the distribution of container cargo from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, resulting in less congestion at [[Downstate New York|downstate]] ports and highways.<ref>{{cite web|title=Port of Albany to Get $3.3 M for Container Barge Service. |date=December 13, 2002 |publisher=Maritime News and Engineering Reports |access-date=2008-12-02 |url=https://www.marinelink.com/Story/Port+of+Albany+to+Get+$3.3M+for+Container+Barge+Service-10198.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419161553/http://www.marinelink.com/story/port%2Bof%2Balbany%2Bto%2Bget%2B%243.3m%2Bfor%2Bcontainer%2Bbarge%2Bservice-10198.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:Stellamare capsized at port of Albany 1.jpg|thumb|right|''Stellamare'' capsized at the Port of Albany–Rensselaer.]]
On December 9, 2003, the Dutch-owned ship ''Stellamare'' [[capsize]]d at the port, killing three Russian crewmembers. The ship was hauling [[General Electric]] generators when it overturned. The [[United States Coast Guard]] determined that poor communication resulting from the supervisors speaking Dutch while the crew spoke Russian, with English being used as a relay, was a contributing factor to mismanagement of [[ballast tanks]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Paul Grondahl |title=Claims settled in deadly Stellamare capsizing. |newspaper=Albany Times Union |date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=2010-10-26 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=7257980 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707202218/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=7257980 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |page=D3 }}</ref> In the early spring of 2008 a port employee was arrested for stealing copper.<ref>{{cite news|author=David Filkins |title=Port worker sold stolen items as scrap, cops say |date=April 9, 2008 |newspaper=Albany Times Union |access-date=2010-10-26 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6545354 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701103813/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6545354 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 1, 2012 |page=D5 }}</ref> This in turn led to investigations of employee theft which resulted in the arrest of an operations manager and a maintenance foreman for larceny.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Cathy Woodruff |title=Leader at port plans to ship out |newspaper=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]] |date=June 3, 2008 |access-date=2008-12-23 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6554268 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712012607/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6554268 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |page=C1 }}</ref> In 2008 the port received two awards from the Railway Industrial Clearance Association. One award was for customer satisfaction and the other for being the most improved port in the United States for handling [[heavy lift]] cargo.<ref>{{cite web | author = Gerald D. Jennings | author-link = Gerald Jennings | date = July 8, 2008 | title = Mayor Jennings Announces Major Awards for the Port of Albany | publisher = City of Albany | access-date = 2009-01-13 | url = http://albanyny.gov/Files/Press%20Release%20-%20Port%20of%20Albany%20Awards.pdf | archive-date = 2011-07-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721032324/http://albanyny.gov/Files/Press%20Release%20-%20Port%20of%20Albany%20Awards.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Future===
The Port of Albany is replacing {{convert|500|ft|m}} of wharvage at a cost of $7.6&nbsp;million in 2008 and 2009.<ref name=Thriving>{{cite news|author=Eric Anderson |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Port of Albany 'still thriving'. |newspaper=[[Albany Times Union]] |access-date=2010-10-26 |url=https://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=7198939 |page=C1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713000938/https://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=7198939 |archive-date=July 13, 2012 }}</ref>
In late March 2008 a proposal for a $350 million ethanol plant was approved by the Albany Port District Commission,<ref>{{cite web |author = Pam Allen |title = $350M ethanol plant planned for Port of Albany.| publisher = [[The Business Review (Albany)|The Business Review]] (Albany) | date = April 1, 2008 | access-date = 2008-11-30 | url = https://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/03/31/daily15.html}}</ref> but the project has been held up due to financing issues.

As of 2021, the site was scheduled as a potential assembly area for offshore [[wind turbine]] towers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Neil |date=19 May 2021 |title=US port spend brings offshore wind factories closer |url=https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/us-port-spend-brings-offshore-wind-factories-closer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521235256/https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/us-port-spend-brings-offshore-wind-factories-closer |archive-date=21 May 2021 |website=Reuters Events}}</ref>

==Governance==
The Albany Port District Commission is a [[New York state public-benefit corporations|New York State public-benefit corporation]] created by the state of New York to develop and manage port facilities anywhere in the cities of Albany and Rensselaer. The commission has five members, four of which are nominated by the mayor of Albany and one is nominated by the mayor of Rensselaer. The governor of New York then appoints them to three-year terms.<ref name=Law/> The commissioners serve without pay, but are compensated for business related expenses.<ref name=Comptroller/> The General Manager of the port commission is Richard J. Hendrick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portofalbany.us/index.php/about-us/management-team|title=Albany Port District Commission - Management Team|work=portofalbany.us|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> The commission is considered to be a unit of the city of Albany and is included in the city's financial statements. Any deficit in the finances of the port commission are assessed against both Albany and Rensselaer. In 1932 the state decided that any deficit assessment would be based on Albany owing 88% of the total and Rensselaer 12%.<ref name=Tonnage/> In 2017, the commission had operating expenses in the amount of $5.98 million, no outstanding debt, and a staff level of 55 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abo.ny.gov/reports/annualreports/ABO2018AnnualReport.pdf|title=NYSABO 2018 Report|pages=17, 30, 45|access-date=November 5, 2018}}</ref>  In 2005 the commission had a staff of 35 employees: eight in administrative duties, five in maintenance, and 22 as part-time security.<ref name=Comptroller>{{cite web |title = Internal Controls Over Financial Operations Report: 2005 | publisher = Office of the State Comptroller, State of New York | access-date = 2009-01-10 | url = http://www2.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093006/05s47.pdf}}</ref>

==Economy==
The Port of Albany and the private companies located there bring to the [[Capital District, New York|Capital District]]'s economy $428 million in direct spending and 1,382 jobs;<ref name=Thriving/> in 2015 the Port was supporting 4,500 jobs across the state and contributing $800 million to the economic output of the region.<ref name=2015ar>{{cite web|title=Port of Albany: 2015 in review|publisher=Port of Albany Commission|access-date=2018-10-04|url=https://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/3/95006/374025/pub/html5.html#page/6}}</ref> The port has a [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|U.S. Customs]] office as it is a [[port of entry]]. The Albany Port Customs District includes all of the following counties: [[Albany County, New York|Albany]], [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia]], [[Delaware County, New York|Delaware]], [[Fulton County, New York|Fulton]], [[Greene County, New York|Greene]], [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery]], [[Otsego County, New York|Otsego]], [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]], [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga]], [[Schenectady County, New York|Schenectady]], [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie]], [[Warren County, New York|Warren]], and [[Washington County, New York|Washington]]; along with the parts of [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]], [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan]], and [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]] counties north of 41°&nbsp;42'&nbsp;N.&nbsp;latitude. The {{convert|35|acre|m2}} on the Rensselaer side of the port is site C of [[Foreign trade zones of the United States|Foreign Trade Zone]] number 121.<ref>{{cite web |title = Capital District Regional Planning Commission Home Page | publisher = Capital District Regional Planning Commission | access-date = 2009-01-03 | url = http://www.cdrpc.org/}}</ref>  A significant amount of the port is part of New York's [[Empire Zone]] program,<ref>{{cite web | title = Empire Zones 2008: Area 1 (Southern Section) | publisher = Albany Local Development Corporation | access-date = 2009-01-08 | url = http://www.albanyny.org/_files/MapArea1SouthSec.pdf | archive-date = 2010-09-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100918071410/http://albanyny.org/_files/MapArea1SouthSec.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> which gives port tenants breaks on state income tax along with various benefits and tax breaks from the city of Albany.

==Connections==
The Port of Albany is roughly {{convert|260|mi|km}} east of Buffalo, {{convert|225|mi|km}} south of [[Montreal]], {{convert|175|mi|km}} west of [[Boston]], and {{convert|135|mi|km}} north of the city of [[New York City|New York]] which makes it a location for regional distribution in the [[Northeastern United States]] and parts of [[Canada]]. As part of the Inland Distribution Network, the Port of Albany has a twice-weekly barge service to and from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey terminals. Shipments into the port can leave through many modes of transportation, including by truck and rail. [[Albany International Airport]] is 15&nbsp;minutes away with cargo facilities. Canals allow for further water transportation on barges further into the interior of [[North America]]. The port also handles commodities that are not carried on ships. Grain, molasses, animal feed, wood pulp, and steel often go from inbound trains to outbound trucks.<ref name=Multimodal/>

===Rail===
[[File:Terminal Railroads,Albany Port Railroad.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A switch Engine SW-9 train of the APRR stands in front of the Cargill Silos at the Port of Albany–Rensselaer.]]
The [[Albany Port Railroad]] (APRR), owned jointly by [[CSX]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CP Rail), has {{convert|18|mi|km}} of track inside the port.<ref>{{cite web |title = Albany Port Railroad Corporation-APD.| publisher = Canadian Pacific Railway | access-date = 2008-11-30 | url = http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Customers/New+Customers/Where+We+Ship/Rail+Partners+Profiles/Albany+Port+Railroad+Corporation+-+APD.htm?PrintMe=1}}</ref> The APRR ties into CP Rail's Colonie Mainline and CSX's Port Subdivision for rail traffic out of the port.<ref name=Multimodal>{{cite web|title=I-87 Multimodal Corridor Study. |publisher=Parsons-Clough Harbour and [[NYSDOT]] |access-date=2009-01-03 |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region1/project-repository/i87MultiModalStudy/documents/chapter_2-11_intermodal_facilities_and_operations.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416213600/https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region1/project-repository/i87MultiModalStudy/documents/chapter_2-11_intermodal_facilities_and_operations.pdf |archive-date=2014-04-16 }}</ref> [[Norfolk Southern Corp.|Norfolk Southern]] has an [[intermodal freight transport|intermodal]] yard at the port.<ref>{{cite web|title=Norfolk Southern Intermodal|url=http://www.nscorp.com/nscintermodal/Intermodal/System_Info/Terminals/albany.html|access-date=2011-05-25|publisher=Norfolk Southern Corporation}}</ref> CP Rail's [[Kenwood, Albany, New York|Kenwood]] Yard is adjacent to the port. The North Albany–Erie Street Yard, also owned by CP Rail, is a few miles north of the port and still in the city of Albany. CSX owns two nearby yards: the Selkirk Yard is {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} south of the port, and the West Albany Yard is {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} north.

===Truck===
Major [[Interstates]] in proximity are:
*[[File:NYS Thruway Sign.svg|25x20px]] [[New York State Thruway]], a [[toll-road]] (west from Albany it is [[Interstate 90]] to [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] and beyond; south the Thruway is [[Interstate 87 (New York)|Interstate 87]] to the [[New York Metro Area]]);
*{{jct|state=NY|I|787}} connects Albany to Troy, New York;
*{{Jct|state=NY|I|87}} (south of Albany it is the Thruway, to the north the [[Adirondack Northway]] then at the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]] it becomes [[Quebec Autoroute 15|Autoroute 15]] to Montreal);
*{{Jct|state=NY|I|90}} (west of Albany it is the Thruway, to the east toll-free until rejoining the Thruway on its [[Berkshire Spur]] and continuing to Boston as the [[Mass Turnpike]]);
*[[File:I-88.svg|21px]] [[I-88 (east)|I-88]] connects Albany to [[Binghamton, New York]].

===Water-to-water===
The Port of Albany is just south of where the [[New York State Canal System]] begins at the Federal Dam in Troy. The Erie Canal allows for water navigation to the [[Great Lakes]], and the [[Champlain Canal]] connects the Hudson River to [[Lake Champlain]]. The [[Richelieu River]]/[[Chambly Canal]] then connects Lake Champlain to the [[St. Lawrence Seaway]] and Montreal.

==Facilities==
The Port of Albany includes:
[[File:AlbanyRensselaerPortBuilding1.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Cargill]] grain elevator]]
*Deep water facilities located on both banks of the river;<ref name=Facilities/>
*two wharves: wharf length on the Albany side of the river is {{convert|4200|ft|m}} with four [[Berth (moorings)|berth]]s, and on the Rensselaer side the length is {{convert|1100|ft|m}} with one berth;<ref name=Facilities/>
*{{convert|20|acre|ha|adj=on}} open storage yard;<ref name=Facilities/>
*Customs and U.S. Department of Agriculture offices;<ref name=Facilities/>
*Four transit sheds and two backup warehouses totaling {{convert|300000|sqft|m2}} of storage;&nbsp;<ref name=Facilities/>
* {{convert|13500000|bushels}} capacity grain elevator;<ref name=Facilities/>
*{{convert|18|e6USgal|m3|adj=on}} capacity bulk liquid storage between two terminals;&nbsp;<ref name=Facilities/>
*Heavy lift on-dock rail capability;<ref name=Facilities/>
*Super-sacking and debagging operation;<ref name=Facilities/>
*{{convert|12|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[road salt]] depot;<ref name=Facilities/>
*{{convert|12|acre|ha|adj=on}} scrap yard;<ref name=Facilities/>
*a {{convert|225|ST|LT t|sp=us|abbr=off|adj=on}} capacity crane and a mobile harbor crane,<ref name=Facilities/> which is the largest harbor crane in the state of New York.<ref name=Tonnage/><ref name=Multimodal/>

===Maritime services===
[[Stevedoring]] operations at the Port of Albany are managed by [[Federal Marine Terminals, Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web |title = Stevedoring | publisher = Albany Port District | access-date = 2009-01-08 | url = http://www.portofalbany.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=86}}</ref> and Port Albany Ventures, LLC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Port Albany Ventures: Location |publisher=Port Albany Ventures, LLC |access-date=2009-01-08 |url=http://www.portalbany.com/location.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122052458/http://portalbany.com/location.html |archive-date=2009-01-22 }}</ref>  The Hudson River Pilots Association handles pilotage on the Hudson River.<ref name=Transport/>

===Tenants===
The rent from the 32 businesses at the port in 2008 contributes $2.76 million in revenue for the port.<ref name=Up>{{cite web |author = Pam Allen | date = November 7, 2008 |title = Port bucks national trend; tonnage up 23%.| publisher = The Business Review (Albany) | access-date = 2008-12-09 | url = http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2008/11/10/story8.html?b=1226293200^1728722}}</ref> As of 2015 there are 23 businesses in 21 buildings occupying 97% of the space available at the port.<ref name=2015ar/> Tenants include Ardent Mills, [[Buckeye Partners]], Callanan Industries, [[Cargill]] (the oldest tenant at the port), Cargill Nutrena, CCI Rensselaer, Durham School Services, Federal Marine Terminals, Gorman Brothers, Mohawk Paper, Newcastle Construction, [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation|NYS Department of Environmental Conservation]], Normal Truck and Trailer, Rensselaer Iron and Steel, San Greco Construction, Upstate Shredding, [[Waste Management (corporation)|Waste Management, Inc.]] of New York, Westway Feed Products, and W.M. Biers.<ref name=2015ar/>

==Cargo==
Some commodities come through the port on a regular basis, others are special cargo for a limited time. Such limited time cargo includes [[subway car]]s shipped to Albany from Brazil in 2006 for six months and most recently subway cars from China bound for Springfield and Boston's MBTA,<ref name=Subway/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2018/11/inside_crrc_as_first_new_orange_line_car.html|title=Springfield's CRRC begins testing Orange Line cars for Boston's MBTA (photos, video)|work=masslive.com|access-date=2018-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref> and {{convert|30|in|mm|adj=on}} diameter pipes with associated materials from [[Italy]] first shipped in May 2007. The pipes were for a {{convert|186|mi|km|adj=on}} long natural gas pipeline and included {{convert|60,000|ST|LT t|0}} of material in about a dozen ships.<ref name=Tonnage/> In 2015 69 ships and barges called at the port, a 15% increase over 2010.<ref name=2015ar/> Commodities shipped to or from Albany on a regular basis include:

*[[Compound feed|Animal feed]];<ref name=Multimodal/>
*[[Cement]];<ref name=Tonnage/>
*[[Cocoa bean]]s;<ref name=Cargo>{{cite web |title = Cargo Handling Expertise | publisher = Albany Port District | access-date = 2010-10-26 | url = http://www.portofalbany.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=66}}</ref>
*[[Grain]] (including [[corn]] and [[wheat]]);<ref name=Energy/>
*[[Gypsum]];<ref name=Cargo/>
*[[Ethanol fuel|Ethanol]];<ref name=Energy/>
*[[Heavy lift]] items (including [[turbine]]s, [[Electric generator|generator]]s, [[heat exchanger]]s, and [[rotor (turbine)|rotor]]s);<ref name=Cargo/>
*[[Liquid fertilizer]];<ref name=Tonnage>{{cite web |title = Port of Albany Annual Report 2009 | publisher = Albany Port District Commission | access-date = 2010-10-26 | url = http://www.portofalbany.us/images/public_documents/POA_annual_report_09_web.pdf }}</ref>
*[[Millscale]] and [[scrap metal]];<ref name=Cargo/>
*[[Molasses]];<ref name=Tonnage/>
*[[Petroleum distillate]]s (including [[Diesel fuel|diesel]], [[gasoline]], [[heating oil]], and [[kerosene]]);
*[[Salt]];<ref name=Cargo/>
*[[Steel]];<ref name=Up/>
*[[Sugar]];<ref name=Subway>{{cite web | author = Eric Durr |title = NYC-bound subway cars coming into Port of Albany | date = July 17, 2006 | publisher = The Business Review (Albany) | access-date = 2009-01-10 | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2006/07/17/daily9.html?jst=s_cn_hl}}</ref>
*[[Wood pulp]] and [[Wooden log|logs]].<ref name=Cargo/>

==Tourism==
[[File:USS Slater Panorama.jpg|thumb|Stern quarter view of {{USS|Slater|DE-766|6}}]]

Along with commercial activities the Port of Albany has non-industrial uses along the river. A ship museum and a tourism cruise ship are docked at the Steamboat Square. Steamboat Square was, until 2010, named the Snow Dock for being where city trucks dumped into the Hudson River snow plowed from the streets.<ref name=Holiday>{{cite news|publisher=Hearst Communications |work=Times Union (Albany) |access-date=2011-08-12 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=14866047 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222134513/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=14866047 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-22 |page=D1 |title=Seafarers' Friends Get Well-Deserved Hand |author=Grondahl, Paul |date=2011-07-17 }}</ref> A PortFest was held in 2007 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Port of Albany-Rennselaer and the 10th anniversary of {{USS|Slater|DE-766|6}} as a [[museum ship]] docked at Albany.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Hearst Communications |work=Times Union (Albany) |access-date=2011-08-12 |date=2007-10-12 |url=http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6423192 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701104256/http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6423192 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-01 |title=PortFest Marks 75 Years |page=D6 }}</ref> National Maritime Day is celebrated with free trolley rides of the port and free rides aboard the Dutch Apple Cruise.<ref name=Holiday/>

USS ''Slater'', which is the only [[destroyer escort]] still afloat in the United States, sits at Steamboat Square near the foot of Madison Avenue.<ref name="USS Slater">{{cite web |title = USS Slater | publisher = Destroyer Escort Historical Museum | access-date = 2009-01-03 | url = http://www.ussslater.org/history.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081006223133/http://www.ussslater.org/history.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date = 2008-10-06}}</ref> The ship is open from April to November to the public. The destroyer closes to the public from December to March and moves from the Steamboat Square to the port's Rensselaer side.<ref name="USS Slater" /> In August 2008 part of the Japanese film ''Orion in Midsummer'' (scheduled for release in spring 2009) was filmed on board.<ref>{{cite web | title = Orion in Midsummer | access-date = 2009-01-17 | publisher = Albany.com| url = http://www.albany.com/news/orion-midsummer.cfm}}</ref>

Dutch Apple Cruises, a private company which gives day cruises on the Hudson River and Erie Canal, also operates at the Steamboat Square.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dutch Apple Cruises: Directions |publisher=Dutch Apple Cruises |access-date=2010-10-26 |url=http://www.dutchapplecruises.com/main/index.php?m=2&p=11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007011725/http://dutchapplecruises.com/main/index.php?m=2&p=11 |archive-date=2010-10-07 }}</ref> The city of Albany has a public [[boat launch]] and [[boat house]] along the Hudson in the Corning Preserve. The boat house and launch are used by the Albany Rowing Center, a [[non-profit]] rowing organization.<ref>{{cite web |title = ARC Homepage | publisher = Albany Rowing Center | access-date = 2009-01-13 | url = http://www.albanyrowingcenter.org/index.php}}</ref>
On the Rensselaer side of the Hudson is the Albany Yacht Club. The club was founded in the city of Albany in 1873 and is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the nation. In 1954 the club moved to the Rensselaer side and since 1971 has been at its current location just south of the [[Dunn Memorial Bridge]]. Facilities are open to the public at large and not just to members.<ref>{{cite web |title = Albany Yacht Club History | publisher = Albany Yacht Club | access-date = 2009-01-13 | url = http://www.albanyyachtclub.com/}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Albany Convention Center]]
* [[Capital District, New York|Capital District]]
* [[Capital District Transportation Authority]]
* [[History of Albany, New York]]
* [[Hudson River–Black River Regulating District]]
* [[List of North American ports]]
* [[List of ports in the United States]]
* [[New York State Archives]]
* [[Ogdensburg–Prescott International Bridge|Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority]]
* [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]]
* [[Port of Oswego]]
* [[The Egg, Albany|The Egg]]

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==External links==
* [http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=aly&gage=albn6&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 Hudson River Level at Albany, NY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706013931/http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=aly&gage=albn6&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 |date=2007-07-06 }}
* [http://www.portofalbany.us Official Port of Albany Website]
* [http://www.albanyny.org/ Official City Government Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110210042554/http://www.lftantillo.com/shop/18th-Century/Return-of-the-Experiment/prod_32.html Return of the Experiment, painting by Len Tantillo]

{{New York}}
{{Albany, New York}}
{{Capital District}}
{{New York state public-benefit corporations}}
{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Port Of Albany-Rensselaer}}
[[Category:Hudson River]]
[[Category:Ports and harbors of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Foreign trade zones of the United States]]
[[Category:Transportation in Albany, New York]]
[[Category:Transportation in Rensselaer County, New York]]
[[Category:River ports of the United States]]
[[Category:1932 establishments in New York (state)]]