On August 1, Open House New York held a summer evening cruise of New York Harbor to learn about the immense scale and complexity of local and global port activity. Bethann Rooney, Port Director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a 30+ year veteran in the maritime industry, guided us on an exploration of the past, present, and future of the shipping industry in New York Harbor.

As the gateway to one of the most concentrated consumer markets in the world, the Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest container terminal on the East Coast and second busiest in the country. A major shipping hub from the first pier in 1659 through the establishment of the Port Authority in 1921 to today, the wooden ships and cargo hooks of the past have now been replaced by computers and a landscape of gantry cranes.

The tour showcased container terminals and cargo infrastructure, along with iconic sites like the Lower Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty, and explored how the Port of New York and New Jersey will continue to serve the region with world-class infrastructure as our cities globalize and supply chains work to meet our on-demand needs.

AIA CES credits (2 LU | HSW) is available for this program.

• Is the boat ADA compliant? Yes.
• Do I need to print my tickets? Tickets must be readily available for scanning on a mobile device or printed.
• Can I bring my own food and drinks? No, Circle Line’s policy prohibits outside food and beverages. There is a full snack bar and beer, wine, and cocktails on board.
• Is smoking permitted on the boat? No.
• What happens in inclement weather? Boat tours are rain or shine.