Open House New York invites you for a summer evening cruise of the New York and New Jersey harbors to learn more about the immense scale and complexity of local and global port activity. Bethann Rooney, Director of the Port Department at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a 30+ year veteran in the maritime industry, will guide us on the past, present, and future of the shipping industry in the New York and New Jersey harbors.

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. From the first pier in 1659 through the establishment of the Port Authority in 1921, the wooden ships and cargo hooks of the past have now been replaced by computers and a landscape of gantry cranes.

Through the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port has remained open and operational, working closely with port partners to keep commerce flowing. The pandemic drove a sharp increase in the amount of cargo moving through port facilities, with record-setting numbers posted virtually every month since early 2020. In 2021 overall, the Port moved a total of nearly 9 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), an increase of 20.2 percent from the annual 2019 pre-pandemic total and the highest single-year total in its history, reflecting the Port’s ability to handle unprecedented cargo amounts in strong collaboration with its marine facility and intermodal network partners.

The tour will showcase container terminals and cargo infrastructure, along with iconic sites like the Lower Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. As our cities globalize and supply chains work to meet our on-demand needs, join us for an exclusive cruise exploring how the Port of New York and New Jersey will continue to serve the region with world-class infrastructure.

This program is offered as part of Festival of New York, a citywide collaborative movement featuring 300+ diverse organizations across all sectors spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2022. Open House New York is proud to be a launch partner of the Festival.

The boat will depart from Pier 83 at the Hudson River and West 43rd Street promptly at 6:30 pm; guests must check-in and be onboard no later than 6:20pm. No food or alcoholic beverages may be brought aboard but sandwiches, salads, snacks, will be available for purchase, as well as hot and cold beverages including wine, beer, and cocktails.

Questions:
Please contact info@ohny.org with “Sunset Boat Tour” in subject line.

• Is the boat ADA compliant? Yes.
• What is the boarding process? Boarding begins 30-minutes before departure (6:00pm). The boat leaves promptly at 6:30pm. Plan accordingly.
• Do I need to print tickets? Tickets need readily available for scanning on a mobile device or printed.
• Can I bring by 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.