Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The "head of navigation" ends where the tanks and the old railroad right-of-way meet, before where Cazenovia Creek joins the river. If you look close you can see the remaining bridge abutment in the river. On the Dredge Hoffman. we "came about" with our noise in the bank, near Buffalo Color, just through the
South Park Ave. bridge, and use to back right up to the railroad bridge and "dredge" our way out.

Mobil Oil is to the upper right of this 1950's era view. A white smoke plume is coming from the tall cracking tower while the tanker dock & storage tanks can clearly be seen.
The Republic Steel dock can also be seen, with the ship in the photo docked where the windmill barges are loading today.

http://www.boatnerd.com/news/newsthumbs ... 1950'S.jpg

-B in B

You have the right area, Mobil was located between Seneca St. & the Buffalo River with Bailey to the East & PVS Chemical to the West. A large refinery once stood there, but all that remains is the storage tanks. Mobil sold off the property in parcels with the ship dock & tanks going to the pipeline company called Buckeye Partners Limited in 2005. The tanker dock is still there, but they haven't got a boat in about 10 years or so. A tow of a tanker up there took nearly 2 hours and was facinating to watch.

-B in B

Thank you both for taking the time to provide this great information.

B in B, is the Mobil Oil dock located up river where those storage tanks can be seen around where Elk St. meets Seneca St.?

Information on the Buffalo River's docks, navigable channels, & navigation rules can be found in the US Coast Guard's book called the "U.S. Coastal Pilot # 6", along with the Army Corps of Engineer's book "Port Series #41". The City's rule book can be obtained at Buffalo City Hall from the Corporation Council. These books could keep you up reading all night, they're loaded with more information than you can probably handle. -B in B

That's not Abbott Rd, it's the South Park Ave. Lift Bridge. Icebreaking is the only reason they have opened it in the last few years. The last time a large vessel transit went up there, it was for dredging a few years ago, and the last time it was up for a cargo was back around '99-'00 when the Mobil Oil tanker dock was active for a time getting gasoline by boat out of Nanticoke.
The railroad bridges heading upstream from the lake are first: "The Bridge at CP-1" or just "The CP-1 Drawbridge", but also called "CSX Main Line River Bridge" sometimes, depending on who's talking. It was originally the New York Central's "River Bridge" or "RB" for short. Next is the Norfolk Southern's bridge that is in the raised position & locked out. It was originally the Nickle Plate Road's bridge. Next is the CSX "CP-Draw" bridge. This was originally the Buffalo Creek Railroad's "River Bridge". Next are the old pilings and approach span for the DL&W RR's "Buffalo River Draw". The lift span has been removed. Next are the pilings for the DL&W's upper river drawbridge, but I don't know if it ever had a name, because this is the end of the navigable channel and no ships ever transited here. In the years 1914 to 1917 the looping bends in this area were straightened so as to construct a navigable channel for shipping traffic. Municipal waste, slag, and cinders were used to fill in the old creek bed and a new section was then cut to make the shape seen today. Dredging took place as far as the DL&W upper river drawbridge but the navigable channel ended there. Bank straightening improvements were also made further upstream towards Bailey Ave. at that time, but no industry ever located there and that section was never dredged.
As far as the tugs go, the tug-barges don't need a G-tug since the City Navigation Rules state that since a tug-barge unit already has a tug, they are exempt from the rules regarding freighters. The tug-barge may call a G-tug anyway, if the current or the weather was bad enough, or if maybe a bow thruster was out or something like that.
By city law, all ships must have a tug when moving forward through their bridges, and two tugs when moving stern first. As the previous poster said, the English River has been leaving with out a tug from time to time, and that would seem to be in violation of the rules, and I don't know why they are allowed to do this.
All G-tug tows must be called in ahead of time because some of the crew have to drive here from out of town. Again, as the other poster said, they make up and break off the tow in the North Entrance so as to have lots of room to move around.

-B in B

It depends on the vessel and it's capability. Champlain and Innovation for example make the transit both in and out of the river unassisted. They go to the Lafarge dock which is just before the Ohio St. lift Bridge. Herbert Jackson however takes an assist both in and out. Jackson goes just past Ohio St. English River Uses an assist coming in only, she is brought in stern 1st to the Lafarge dock. When a vessel does use the assist of a Tug they stop just outside the North Entrance to the harbor, near lighthouse point. Erie St. which leads to the Erie Basin Marina is the closest street. My understanding of the tugs going up to the old Republic dock is that so far one has been assisted and one not. The dock is near the Abbot Rd. lift bridge which is beyond Ohio St. headed up the river. There are 3 rail lift bridges between. One remains open and has not been used in years. The other 2 represent CSX and NS respectively. CSX is the one nearer the mouth of the river.

With respect to how far it can be navigated, I can not recall the last time the Abbot Road bridge opened for anything other then heavy icebreaking opperations.

Hope that helps, if you need more info feel free to email jkeklak at yahoo.com

I’m curious about some things regarding the Buffalo River.

1.) When large freighters and tankers arrive, do they stop and wait at some point before the skyway bridge for their tugboat to arrive or do they sail up the river a bit to meet their tow? Is it a scheduled tow or is there a roaming g-tug for first come first serve?

2.) When barge/tug combos sail up the river (as happened recently), do they require additional g-tug assistance or can the arriving tug handle the job itself? How big a tow (number of barges lashed together) is permitted for this river?

3.) Finally, how far up the river is navigable by large ships and where is the farthest upriver dock located? I read a recent post by Mr. Wroblewski detailing the Buffalo River, but the landmarks he used were railroad yards and industrial areas I’m unfamiliar with. Perhaps some street names would help me.

Please accept my apologies if this information is already posted someplace and I missed it.

Thanks.