Gunkholes, Harbors, Ports and Wharves 1

November 1, 2015 in Asia, books, collaboration, history, New Jersey, personal, photos, US Army, USN | Tags: Bayonne, Bjorn Holland, Caven Point Pier, Getty images, Kelly Cheng, MOTBY, sixth boro, tugster

The title is such a mouthful that I’ll soon reduce it to GHP&W. Although this blog began with photos and observations of mostly working vessels in the great harbor associated with New York City, the watery part of which I call the sixth boro, the blog followed a course suggested by these vessels to other GHP&Ws. And given then the global nature of water traffic, it seems logical to devote at least a month to other GHP&Ws.

I’ll kick off with this post about a port I’ll likely never visit, the former Aral Sea fishing port of Moynaq in Uzbekistan. The photos come from Getty Images by Bjorn Holland and Kelly Cheng. Surprisingly maybe, I live in a neighborhood of NYC where Uzbek is the dominant language, which was part of my motivation to read a Tom Bissell book called Chasing the Sea: Lost among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia. I highly recommend it.
Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

So here are some detail areas of a huge aerial photo print I saw the other day. Can anyone point to detail that confirms a date? My guess is somewhere in the 50s or 60s. The first photo below shows the southeast point of Bayonne NJ. The peninsula bisecting the top and bottom is MOTBY. Governors Island is upper right and the Statue is upper left with the southern tip of Manhattan along the top.

Below is a closer up of the lower right corner of the photo above, showing that tugboat, some barges, and two sets of trucks at the cement dock.

Note the Statue and Ellis Island. To the left of it is now Liberty State Park. The Caven Point Pier crosses the center of the photo and the current Global Terminal is still waiting for fill.

Below is the just capped landfill that is topped by the Bayonne Golf Club. Lower left is quite the gunkhole with disintegrating watercraft I’d love to see a closeup of.

Remember that all the B/W “photos” above are parts of the same aerial shot.

Let’s have a fun month with lots of GHP&Ws. And not to be too prescriptive, I’d love photos from a variety of GHP&Ws in Asia and Africa, mostly lacking in my previous 2900+ posts. Of course, here and here are a few posts I’ve done on African ports; here, Asian; and here and here, South American.

While I’m asking for collaboration, I have a chance to replicate a trip on a major African river that I originally did in 1973-74; what I seek is leads to a publication that might be interested in the story and photos. The trip is pricey, and if I can sell a tale with photos, I can offset some of the expense. Anyone have ideas or connections?

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12 comments

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November 1, 2015 at 12:26 pm

John Vanderdoe

The first picture brings me back to the year 1959, when I sailed on the MT”Astrid Naes” and discharged oil loaded in San Nicolas (Aruba) in Bayonne, NJ.

November 1, 2015 at 1:18 pm

tugster

Here she is: http://www.lardex.net/oslo/herlofson/skipstekst/1960AstridNaess.htm

November 1, 2015 at 1:54 pm

William Lafferty

There are two large MSTS troop transports shown at the long pier of the Caven Point Army Depot. This facility in 1968 received several deactivated troop transports that had served in Viet Nam before they were sent to other facilities, especially Ft. Eustis, so my guess is 1968. In the fourth photo detail one can see the Michigan (still a fixture in these parts?) unloading caustic soda or soy oil or whatever.

November 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm

tugster

Is that the Michigan aka ILI 105, still languishing in the Arthur Kill? https://tugster.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/ghost-puzzles-1/

November 2, 2015 at 5:35 pm

William Lafferty

I’ve compared it with my photos of the Michigan, and I’m pretty certain it is. Those seem to be vegetable oil holding tanks ashore. Who owned that facility back then, I wonder.

November 1, 2015 at 8:39 pm

Charles Danko

Grew up in Bayonne so these photos bring back a lot of memories. I worked for the local land surveyor while in high school & we humped the area known as the Long Docks back then all summer long which would have been 1962 I believe. Development (including Global) didn’t start until we finished our job so I’d think your timeframe is in the ballpark.

I’m not sure but could that be Atlantic Cement where the barge is tied up?

1st photo – the tanker is tied up at Esso where I spent a lot of time. My father worked on that pier unloading tankers & barges from around 1960 to 1974 when he retired.

The Bayonne Golf Club site was locally known as “The Dumps” when I was a kid. My Dad had a friend who owned a barge down there (maybe one in the photo) & I spent many a day crabbing, catching eels & just enjoying lazy summer days back in the early ’60s.

MOTBY was a Navy base back in the day. I moved out of Bayonne in 1974 & never had the chance to visit that area until last year (except Armed Forces Days as a youngster).

Thanks for the trip down memory lane sir………really enjoyed it.

November 2, 2015 at 4:17 pm

glen

I,m going to have to agree with Mr. Lafferty about the time period of about 1968 because of the troop transports at Caven Point. We worked around that area when I was on RR tugs in 66/67 and they were still there when I went to work on the SI Ferries in early 68. Making me feel old but I love the old Photos. Thanks Will

November 2, 2015 at 7:04 pm

Charles Danko

I wonder if those oil holding tanks were part of Allied Crude Vegetable Oil which was owned by Tino DeAngelis? In 1963 the Salad Oil Scandal shook the world.

November 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm

bowsprite