New York Harbor in Winter

Article and photos by Ted Scull.

Some years see ice and snow, more often than others, and their presence on the surface of the Upper Bay or North (Hudson) River, and on ships and docks, makes for some wonderful winter scenes. Here we present several sets of photos taken on different winter dates in years past, starting with images of Cunard’s QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 which was a welcome winter visitor in early January when she sailed from the icy harbor bound for an around the world cruise or arrived back ice-coated after the December crossing. More readily accessible was the Staten Island Ferry that runs an around-the-clock schedule every day of the year, rarely suspending service. Two sets of photos, taken on two different days a couple of decades ago, show the boats in winter conditions sailing through the ice, decks covered with snow, and crews shoveling the white stuff over the side. In more recent years, New York is receiving less snow, but still experiences periods of cold weather that produces icy conditions in the harbor ideal for winter-time photography.

The QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 backing out of her berth at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal with the assist of a Moran tug (1/18/1981).

The ice encrusted bow of the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal (12/21/2004).

A KENNEDY-class Staten Island Ferry boat outbound from Lower Manhattan (undated).

Staten Island Ferry steam-powered boat dating from 1950-51 (4/6/1982).

Diesel-powered Staten Island Ferry boat approaching the slip at St. George, S.I. (4/6/1982).

Diesel-powered Staten Island Ferry boat in a layup berth at St. George, S.I. (2/6/1978).

Snow-covered deck on a Staten Island Ferry (2/6/1978).

Shoveling snow on the vehicle deck of a Staten Island Ferry (2/6/1978).

Shoveling snow on the Saloon Deck of a Staten Island Ferry (2/6/1978).

Shoveling the Saloon Deck on a Staten Island Ferry at St. George, S.I. (4/6/1982).

Staten Island Ferry passengers braving the winter cold for a view of the Twin Towers and an icy Upper New York Bay (1/22/1994).

Holland Tunnel vent building on an icy North (Hudson) River (1/25/2003).

A tugboat escorting a NY Waterway Ferry through the ice into the Midtown/West 39th Street Ferry Terminal, with a second tug standing by (1/25/2003).

NY Waterway ferry discharging passengers at the Midtown/West 39th Street Ferry Terminal (1/25/2003).

Two tugboats clearing ice for a departing NY Waterway ferry at the Midtown/West 39th Street Ferry Terminal (1/25/2003).

NY Waterway ferry on an icy North (Hudson) River (1/25/2003).

A view of the ice-choked North (Hudson) River looking north towards the George Washington Bridge. Taken from the far end of a long pier jutting well out into the river at West 70th Street (1/25/2003).

A view of the ice-choked North Cove Marina at Battery Park City (1/25/2003).

Historic 1931 fireboat JOHN J. HARVEY at Pier 66 North River. A veteran of the SS NORMANDIE fire in 1942, she was retired from service by the FDNY in 1994, only to be reactivated on September 11, 2001, to help pump water at the World Trade Center site. (1/25/2003).

Dinner cruise yacht MAJESTIC STAR docked at the Chelsea Piers in view of the Empire State Building (1/25/2003).

U.S. Coast Guard ferry LT. SAMUEL S. COURSEN en route between Governors Island and the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan (1/22/1994).

Coastal tanker PATRICIA N. GELLATLY on the East River passing the Brooklyn Bridge (1/22/1994).

Tugboat on an ice East River passing the Brooklyn Bridge (1/22/1994).