Barge Service Start-Up Gives Shot In Arm To Red Hook Terminal

A major shot in the arm was provided recently to Brooklyn's last container terminal as a container barge service started up, connecting the Brooklyn facility with New Jersey.

Service between the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's Red Hook Container Terminal and the bistate port's main container complex in Newark and Elizabeth, N. J., is on an as-needed basis right now, but regular daily service is expected to begin very soon.

Universal Maritime Service Corp.

will be the operator. Universal also operates the Red Hook terminal.

Since a highway construction project impeded access to the Red Hook terminal and its largest customer, Jugolinija, gave official notice that it would leave, concern about the ability of Red Hook to survive has been heightened in recent months.

For now, Jugolinija has decided to stay at the terminal, and officials have said a barge service could be one factor influencing a decision to stay at Red Hook.

The city's Urban Development Corp. is funding part of the cost of the barge service.

For now, the barges will be loaded and unloaded with cranes, but an upgrade to roll-on/roll-off operation is hoped for in the future.

Problems finding funding had delayed the service, which had long been in the works.

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