New York & New Jersey Pilot Notes
Hudson River to
Erie Canal, a 294-mile waterway, extends
from the pool of the Troy Dam in the Hud-
the Great Lakes
son River at Waterford W through the Mo-
hawk River and landcuts to Oneida Lake,
Note: The Hudson River above the Troy
thence through the Oneida, Seneca, and
Lock and Dam joins with the New York State
Clyde Rivers, landcuts, an artificial channel,
Canal System to form a connecting water-
and Tonawanda Creek to Niagara River at
way W to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and
Tonawanda. The Niagara River connects the
N to Lake Champlain. The navigation sea-
Erie Canal with Lake Erie at Buffalo.
son is normally from the first part of May to
Oswego Canal, a 21sm waterway, extends
the latter part of November.
N from the Erie Canal, 141sm W of the Troy
For detailed information on transiting the ca-
dam, to Oswego where it joins Lake Ontario.
nals, see the New York Canal System Website,
For the most part, the canal follows the
www.canals.state.ny.us, or call 518-471-5016.
Oswego River from its confluence with the
Depths and Heights: The Great Lakes-
Oneida and Seneca Rivers.
Hudson River Waterway Improvement,
Cayuga and Seneca Canal extends S from
which includes the Erie Canal from Wa-
the Erie Canal 177sm W to the Troy Dam. The
terford W to Three Rivers and thence the
canal follows the improved Seneca River to
Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario, has a project
Cayuga Lake and extends through the lake to
depth of 14ft at normal pool level between
Ithaca at the S end. From the N end of Cayuga
locks and 13ft at normal pool level through
Lake, the canal follows Seneca River W to
all locks and guard gates.
Seneca Lake and extends through the lake to
Elsewhere, the project depth is 12ft in all
Watkins Glen at the S end. A 2.2sm canal ex-
channels and through all locks and guard
tends S from Watkins Glen to Montour Falls.
gates. Usable dimensions of the locks are
Champlain Canal, a 52sm waterway, fol-
300ft in length and 43ft in width.
lows the Hudson River N from Waterford for
The least clearance of bridges and cables
about 32sm to Fort Edward, then to White-
over the Great Lakes-Hudson River Water-
hall at the entrance to Lake Champlain.
way Improvement is 20ft. The least clearance
The New York Canal System connects Lake
over the other waterways of the New York
Ontario and Lake Erie with the Hudson
State Canal System is 15ft.
River. Numerous locks and low bridges are
located along the canals.
New York Harbor
There is a large ship anchorage on either
side of the channel just north of the Verraza-
and Approaches
no Bridge. Expect ships to be both anchored
and moving in and out of the area.
Tides p. 393, Differences p. 523 Vessel Traffic Service: New York VTS area
Currents p. 600, Differences p. 701
includes all of lower and upper New York Har-
bor, Hudson River up to the Holland Tunnel,
Pilotage: There are several heavily used East River to the Throgs Neck Bridge, exclud-
traffic lanes leading into New York from off- ing Harlem River. All vessels 40 meters or lon-
shore. Boats should avoid these traffic lanes. ger, all towing vessels 8 meters or longer, and
At the entrance to the outer harbor are three all vessels certified to carry 50 passengers or
main channels; Ambrose and Swash Chan- more must report movements to VTS. Partici-
nels connect to the Narrows, leading to the pating vessels make initial report on VHF 11.
Upper Bay; Sandy Hook Channel leads to All additional reports are made on channel 14.
Sandy Hook Bay and the Shrewsbury River.
Avoid crossing Romer Shoal and East Bank,
particularly in heavy weather.
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