Click here for this series. “Fifth dimension” designates these as not contemporary, i.e., archival.
“HT” here is Harry Thompson, who sent me these photos, all from 1986. I’m not going to say much about the photos because I don’t know much. I was not in New York then. I will say what I know, but please . . . comment away.
Elise M was then a Poling boat; now you might know her as Morgan Reinauer.
The three identifiable boats here are all still around: Jane McAllister is in Eastport, Dragon Lady is now Bridgeport, and Mary Turecamo is still Mary Turecamo. Anyone know the excursion vessel and container ship out beyond?
Here’s another of Dragon Lady.
Dragon Lady . . . has been mentioned, Tilly has had a sad demise, and Emily S I have no info about. There is a fourth tugboat beyond Emily S, but I can’t identify it.
Here’s another of Tilly and an unidentified Berman vessel beyond here. Tilly was built in the Bronx.
This is a CROWDED harbor as it’s not seen anymore. I can’t identify anything there, but it reminds me of a hypothetical photo I’d love to see . . . Grand Erie (scroll) was in the harbor for this centennial celebration of Lady Liberty. Might anyone have a photo of her in the harbor for that fest?
And we’ll end here with a mystery three-masted schooner. Anyone identify her?
All photos by Harry Thompson . . . and done on film. More tomorrow, so please send in your comments now.
Sometimes I get queries about collaboration; I really enjoy doing it like this.
Unrelated: Here are the results of the Erie Canalway photo contest.
tugster: a waterblog 
12 comments
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September 30, 2015 at 10:57 am
Allen Baker
The container ship in the one shot looks to be one of the laid up US LInes Econo class ships. US Lines went belly up in 86 and their ships were laid up.
September 30, 2015 at 10:59 am
tugster
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-jumbo-econship-and-the-death-of-united-states-lines-1615138118
September 30, 2015 at 12:29 pm
tugster
and thanks to a conversation on FB, here’s the ID on the three-masted schooner with red sails: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria_(schooner) . . . catastrophic ending in 1996.
September 30, 2015 at 3:52 pm
Harry
The Last I know Wil of the Emily was that she was bought by Weeks and that was back in the 90s
September 30, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Harry
Also Wil the unidentified Berman vessel was named the Bunker tide and was sold in the 90s to a outfit in Norfolk VA
September 30, 2015 at 7:19 pm
eastriver
The excursion boat behind Mary Turecamo is the first Spirit Cruises boat in NY Harbor, in maybe 1987: Spirit of New York (obviously referred to as SONY.) She went to Jersey, and then maybe to Norfolk. Used to run out of Pier 11 East River.
October 1, 2015 at 5:29 am
Anonymous
tanker beyond TILLY at the tanks might be SUSAN FRANK.
October 1, 2015 at 5:46 am
Steve Munoz
In early-mid 1980s, my uncle docked one of these U S Lines ship’s, I believe the American Utah , as U S Lines went out of business.
October 1, 2015 at 11:54 am
tugpower
Tug BUNKER TIDE was built in 1966 as DAD II for Doucet & Adams, Inc. Berman Enterprises acquired the tug in the late 1980’s, early 1990’s where she became BUNKER TIDE. In the late 1990’s she was acquired by by the Bay Gulf Trading Corp., Norfolk, Va., & renamed JENNA B. In 2006, Bay Gulf Trading was acquired by K-Sea Transportation Partners, LP, and the tug was renamed BANDA SEA. In 2007, Donjon Marine acquired the tug, and she is presently their BRIAN NICHOLAS.
The tanker beyond the tug TILLY, is Berman’s SUSAN FRANK. Finally, tug EMILY S. is now the ROBERT owned by Weeks Marine, Inc.
October 5, 2015 at 8:46 am
Harry
Berman had 2 tankers that were identical…Susan and the Rebbecca. There also was a sludge tanker owned by them named The Coney Island,but she was scraped/or sold before 1986.
January 23, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Anonymous
The fourth tug was the Bunker Tide
October 4, 2020 at 7:15 pm
Anonymous
July 4, 1986 was a long and cold night. Record cold temperature of 50 degrees F. The VIPs on Governors Island got cold and called for blankets. A truck showed up and distributed blankets. They were marked NYC Morgue.