The Buffalo Shipping Page

Brian, Buffalo NY.

I've created this page to let people know about the interesting shipping action in and around Buffalo Harbor.The harbor here is split between the outer and inner sections. The inner area is basicly the Buffalo River and City Ship Canal. The river ( or "creek" as its known) is a twisting , turning channel filled with all sorts of lift bridges and industrial buildings. Some ships (up to 647 feet) may take up to 2 hours to make it all the way up to the end of the navigable section , even with two tugs! It is quite a sight to see. Below you can see the Kinsman Independent making a close turn at Ohio St. while the JAW Iglehart sits at Lafarge Cement. The City Ship Canal branches off of the Buffalo River and runs roughly parallel to it along the lakefront.
The outer area is deeper and has lots of slips and piers protected by a long breakwater. The Black Rock Canal/ Niagara River extend to the North. There, ships go through locks on the way down to the Tonawanda area. Lackawanna is an industrial suburb to the South. At Lackawanna there is a ship canal running through the Bethlehem Steel plant and is now the site of the Port Of Buffalo. The abandoned Union Ship Canal sits on the Buffalo-Lackawanna border.
There are a couple of hot spots where you can catch some of the action. The Erie Basin is a great spot to grab something to eat and then check out the lighthouse and observation tower. From there you can see the missile cruiser USS Little Rock, the destroyer Sullivans, and the fleet sub Croaker. Most of the harbor and the Entrance Channels to the Buffalo River and Black Rock Canal can also be seen . It is located near downtown Buffalo, just off the I-190. The corner of Hamburg and South Streets in South Buffalo is a famous spot to view a panorama of 7 different grain elevators and the occasional lake boat. Kinsman Independent lays up in this area between December and March. The rail car ferry Lansdowne, built in 1884 is now docked at the foot of Hamburg St. as well. The Kinsman Enterprise and the Aquarama passenger ship can be seen at the Outer Harbor piers from Rt. 5. The new park at the end of Smith St. off of South Park Ave. offers a great view of a 90 degree bend in the river crossed by 3 lift bridges. Whatever you do, never, ever tresspass on private property!!! Waterfront industries are ultra paranoid about trespassers. There are plenty of places to to view ships and buildings from public land.
Here are some sites to check out:
For my Buffalo Vessel Update: Vessel Passage
This site has rare information on lots of interesting Buffalo sites. It has detailed info on the grain elevators here and the marine legs used to unload ships. Great railroad info is also to be found. The Buffalo History Works
Self explanatory:Welcome to the Lower Lakes Historical Society
Here you can learn about the Black Rock Ship Lock in Buffalo: Black Rock Lock
To view the history of the Buffalo Coast Guard Base see: historylink.html at www.uscg.mil
See the current Buffalo radar : Intellicast - Buffalo Radar Image also see: Buffalo's Web Cam
For the best info on Great Lakes ships on the web: Great Lakes and Seaway Vessel Passage
For some interesting info/photos on the Detroit/ Windsor area see: Commercial Shipping on the Detroit River
To catch up on Great Lakes news and gossip: alt.great-lakes (all)
This site has rare photos and info on the gigantic, monster like, Hulett type ship unloaders used throughout the lakes: Hulett Automatic Ore Unloaders Home Page
Check out the Welland Canal: Jeff Cameron: Home Page
For a great site on the new form of transportation on the lakes: OCEAN TUG BARGE ENGINEERING and Welcome to Intercon: Tug-Barge Couplers
To get maps/ Photos: United States Geological Survey Home Pageor National Aerial Photography Program: Search C... and US port info with a free CD rom:
U.S. Waterway Data - Bureau of Census Vessel Clearances and Entrances
For some navy stuff: World Navies Today: United States of America
I have here for you the links to a few of the mightyest warships of all time: USS Little Rock (CLG-4), USS Little Rockand USS Croaker (SSK-246)
To read the history of the greatest aircraft carrier of all time check out: LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CV/CVA/CVS-39) Home Page
For info on Navy SAM shootdowns of enemy aircraft: Battle off Dong Hoi or Homeport of the USS Biddle DLG / CG 34 Interesting fact/fiction? Philadelphia Exp
For Navy chit-chat: sci.military.naval (all)
This page is a hard to find item, it has the entire US Fleet's ship dispositions on the Vessel Register. navshipsohist
Great site on model kits and news in the industry:Navismagazine.com, for AirSea enthusiasts and modelers
Look here to find tons of info on the Nike Air Defense Missiles that protected the US: Ed's Nike Missile Web Page, also:Nike Missile Site Recent Pictures Related to this-take a tour of America's fortress:Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center
This site has great information on the interesting Steel Industry with pictures of Blast Furnaces and everything: Welcome to Bethlehem Steel's Web Site
Lose yourself for hours checking out awesome Monte Carlos: The G-Body Webring and Impalas:NAISSO World Headquarters - National Association of Impala SS Owners

My Photo Gallery: Kinsman Independent and Iglehart-Buffalo River, Aquarama at Cargil Pier, Stephen Reinauer-George Morris-Ohio St bridge, Tug Muskegon and dredger-Black Rock Canal, Brian's Nike photos ,BU-52 Hamburg,NY

Ship's Histories: Buffalo Fire Boat Edward M. Cotter, Kinsman Enterprise

Please feel free to let me know about any others of interest. I'm always looking for photos, drawings, and whatnot of ships, industrial buildings, trains, and the waterfront here in Buffalo. Also, any info/photos on the Nike missile systems or on the US Navy especialy the cruiser SAM shootdowns/radar supperssion missions in Vietnam and any info on T-2, C-4 or C-2 class lake freighter conversions or integrated tug barges.
-Brian

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