Port of New York and New Jersey

Port of New York and New Jersey
Company type	Port district
Industry	Maritime transportation, Cargo shipping
Founded	1921
Headquarters	New York City and Newark, United States
Area served	New York-Newark metropolitan region
Key people	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (manager)
Products	Cargo handling, Shipping terminals, Foreign-trade zones
Parent	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port of New York and New Jersey represents the maritime district serving the New York-Newark metropolitan region, extending approximately a radius around the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

This port encompasses navigable waterways within the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, featuring over of shoreline adjacent to New York City and northeastern New Jersey, and is recognized as one of the largest natural harbors worldwide.

Historically the busiest port on the U.S. East Coast, it achieved the status of the nation's leading maritime cargo port by volume in 2022, playing a crucial role in driving the local economy.

Complementing the port's activities are regional airports, which establish this area as the foremost gateway for international air travel in the United States and its busiest center for both passenger and air freight movement. Additionally, the port contains two designated U.S. foreign-trade zones (FTZs).

Port district

Spanning roughly a radius from the Statue of Liberty National Monument, the port district includes all or parts of seventeen counties. Fully incorporated are Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties in New Jersey, along with all five boroughs of New York City: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings), Queens, and Staten Island (Richmond). Partial sections of Passaic, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, and Somerset counties in New Jersey also fall within this area, as do Nassau, Westchester, and Rockland counties in New York.

Bodies of water

Ranked among the world’s largest natural harbors is New York Harbor.

Southeast of the port lies the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance area to this sea region, called the New York Bight, is positioned between the Sandy Hook peninsula in New Jersey and Rockaway in Queens.

Within Lower New York Bay and its western extension Raritan Bay, vessels prepare to navigate westward into Arthur Kill or up the Raritan River, or head north toward The Narrows. To the east is Rockaway Inlet, which provides access to Jamaica Bay. The Narrows links to Upper New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River—sometimes referred to as the North River—allowing large ships to travel upstream to ports such as Albany-Rensselaer. On the western side lies Kill van Kull, a strait leading into Newark Bay, which receives inflows from the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, along with Arthur Kill’s northern entrance.

Additional waterways accessible via the port include channels such as Gowanus Canal and Buttermilk Channel. The wide East River flows northward toward Newtown Creek and Harlem River, then turns east at Hell Gate before opening into Long Island Sound, connecting to open ocean waters.

Channels

The port maintains an intricate system comprising roughly of shipping lanes, anchorages, and terminal facilities. Most vessels require pilotage services; larger ships often depend on tugboats to negotiate tight turns.

The principal navigational route is the Ambrose Channel, which extends from offshore into Upper Bay before becoming Anchorage Channel. Other significant channels linking various parts of the harbor include Bay Ridge, Red Hook, Buttermilk, Claremont, Port Jersey, Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, Port Newark, Elizabeth, and Arthur Kill. Anchorages are situated at locations such as Stapleton, Bay Ridge, and Gravesend.

Initially naturally about deep, harbor depths were increased over time to a controlling depth of by 1880. By 1891, Main Ship Channel had been dredged to depth. Following legislation passed in 1899 under the Rivers and Harbors Act, over $1.2 million was allocated for dredging channels at Bay Ridge, Red Hook, and Sandy Hook to depths of 40 ft. In 1914, Ambrose Channel became established as the main entrance at dimensions of 40 ft deep and 2000 ft wide. During World War II efforts deepened it further to 45 ft to accommodate larger Panamax-class vessels.

A major $2.1 billion Army Corps of Engineers initiative finalized in 2016 deepened key harbor channels to 50 ft to support Post-Panamax container ships compatible with expansions at both the Panama and Suez Canals.

Environmental issues emerged due to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants beneath sediments near container terminals at Port Newark. In 2009, dredged PCB-laden materials were temporarily stored at sites including former Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

In certain locations where dredging encountered bedrock layers, blasting was necessary prior to removal. At one point in 2005, this port operated what was considered the world's largest dredging fleet with approximately 70 vessels active.

The Anchorage Channel within Upper Bay maintains a depth near 50 ft. A project initiated in 2012 aimed at replacing water mains between Brooklyn and Staten Island has allowed dredging operations approaching depths close to 100 ft. The Army Corps recommends sustaining most channels at a depth of 50 ft; this dredging milestone was achieved by August 2016.

Clearance restrictions imposed by bridges also affect vessel height limits: for example, clearance under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge measures , while that under the Brooklyn Bridge is . The clearance under the Bayonne Bridge was raised from to .

Pilotage

The Sandy Hook Pilots are certified maritime pilots tasked with guiding oceangoing vessels—including passenger liners, freighters, and tankers—through the port's jurisdiction.

Early history

The estuary was originally home to the migratory Lenape, whose livelihood depended on the abundant oyster beds found in the tidal salt marshes. These oyster banks served as a vital food source for the region until widespread pollution and land reclamation efforts in the late 1800s led to their near destruction.

European exploration commenced with Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. Following Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage, colonization intensified, culminating in the founding of Dutch New Amsterdam at Manhattan’s southern tip. Throughout the colonial period under British rule, the port grew significantly, becoming an integral hub in the triangular trade connecting Europe, Africa, and North America. Wharves were densely concentrated along the East River. During the American Revolutionary War, British forces occupied the harbor and utilized prison ships anchored in Wallabout Bay.

19th century

The early 1800s witnessed substantial expansion driven by the construction of the Erie Canal and Morris Canal, which connected the port to inland markets across America. This connectivity spurred growth in transshipment, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. The introduction of steam-powered engines led to expanded rail infrastructure and terminals along the Hudson River’s west bank, complemented by extensive ferry and carfloat systems near the Harlem River. The dawn of the ocean liner era around 1900 prompted development of additional berths at North River piers and Hoboken. This period also saw mass immigration processed through Castle Clinton and Ellis Island, with many newcomers settling locally or traveling inland via ships and trains. By 1910, this port had become the busiest worldwide.

20th century

During both World Wars, the waterfront hosted critical shipyards and military facilities such as the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and Brooklyn Navy Yard, serving as a pivotal Port of Embarkation for moving troops overseas. Mid-century infrastructure projects introduced major highways like the Belt Parkway, East River Drive, and Major Deegan Expressway, which traced along the shoreline.

Following World War I, the 1919 New York City Harbor Strike brought port activities to a standstill for several weeks, influencing labor relations and shipping operations. The traditional role of the longshoreman, famously portrayed in On the Waterfront, diminished by the 1970s as changes in transportation rendered many waterfront facilities obsolete. The nation’s first prototype container shipping terminal opened in 1962, initiating a shift toward terminals located at Newark Bay. This transition was supported by expanded intermodal freight networks and integration with the Interstate Highway System.

From the 1980s onward, waterfront redevelopment projects transformed these areas into publicly accessible spaces featuring linear park greenways such as Hudson River Park, Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. These initiatives enhanced urban appeal and attracted new investment.

21st century

In July 2017, the CMA CGM vessel Theodore Roosevelt, recognized as the largest ship ever to dock at an East Coast port, passed beneath the elevated Bayonne Bridge. This event was succeeded by visits from even bigger ships, such as MSC's Cristina and Virgo in 2021, highlighting continuous expansion in container shipping capacity at regional harbors.

Jurisdiction and regulation

Authority over port operations is shared among local, state, and federal entities, as well as both public and private organizations.

Established in 1921, the bi-state Port Authority of New York and New Jersey manages maritime terminals, vehicular crossings, the regional rapid transit network, multiple airports, along with various transportation and real estate initiatives.

Both the Port Authority and the Waterfront Commission—created in 1953 to combat criminal activities—maintain their own police departments. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has been responsible for maintaining bulkheads and navigation channels since 1826. The United States Coast Guard oversees removal of floating debris, spill responses, vessel rescues, and security against terrorism.

Maritime law enforcement units are also maintained by state and local governments; federal properties receive oversight from the United States Park Police, while historic landmarks and parklands fall under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction.

As an official port of entry, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) supervise import inspections and passenger processing. The "green lane" initiative facilitates expedited clearance for pre-approved shippers. The port encompasses two foreign trade zones: FTZ 1 (established in 1937) on the New York side and FTZ 49 on the New Jersey side.

In 2006, plans to transfer management of certain passenger terminals to Dubai Ports World ignited controversy over foreign control of U.S. port operations despite P&O Ports’ British origins. Subsequently, DP World divested P&O’s American assets to Global Investment Group, an asset management arm of American International Group.

Labor interests at the port are represented by organizations including the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, the Teamsters, and the International Longshoremen's Association.

Airports

The airport system serving the Port of New York and New Jersey ranks as the largest in the United States, second globally by passenger volume, and first in total flight movements. JFK Airport leads U.S. air freight cargo volumes, while Newark Liberty International Airport functions as a regional hub for FedEx Express, the busiest cargo airline worldwide.

Container terminals

The port features four container terminals:

These terminals are leased to operators such as A. P. Moller-Maersk Group, American Stevedoring, NYCT, and Global Marine Terminal.

In June 2010, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey purchased 128 acres at the Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne to expand container handling facilities tailored for larger vessels enabled by the Panama Canal expansion. This development included elevating the Bayonne Bridge roadway—a project completed in May 2019—to accommodate post-Panamax ships.

Collectively, this volume positions it as the largest container port on the U.S. East Coast and third busiest nationwide. In 2023, it processed over 7.8 million TEUs, leveraging increased post-Panamax capacity following Panama Canal enhancements. Nevertheless, it experienced a more pronounced decline in cargo volume compared to California ports, allowing the Port of Los Angeles to reclaim its status as the country’s busiest port.

ExpressRail

ExpressRail constitutes the rail infrastructure facilitating intermodal freight transport at the principal container terminals within the port. The expansion and maintenance of dockside tracks and railyards designated for transloading are overseen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, collaborating with various public entities and private partners. Multiple switching and terminal railroad operators, including Conrail Shared Assets Operations (CRCX) along the Chemical Coast Secondary, provide connections to major East Coast rail freight carriers such as Norfolk Southern (NS), CSX Transportation (CSX), and Canadian Pacific (CP). Funding for this rail network is partially derived from a surcharge applied to all containers transported through the port by rail or road.

Bulk cargo and marine transfer

Although the majority of consumer goods are shipped in containers, other types of cargo like petroleum and scrap metal are managed at facilities specializing in marine transfer operations, bulk cargo, and break bulk cargo across the port, frequently situated along its straits and canals. Certain locations have raised environmental concerns, resulting in their inclusion on the list of Superfund sites in the United States. Notable sites include:

Arthur Kill, adjacent to the Bayway Refinery and the Chemical Coast
Kill van Kull near Constable Hook
The Gowanus Canal in South Brooklyn
Newtown Creek, located on the East River between Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and Hunter's Point, Queens
The stretch of the Passaic River from Newark Bay to Passaic, New Jersey
The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Car float and Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel

Historically, barges transferred nearly 600,000 railcars annually within this region. Presently, around 1,600 railcars are transported via the remaining car float service across the Upper Bay, connecting Greenville Yard in Jersey City with the 65th Street Yard and Bush Terminal Yard in Brooklyn. This operation is managed by New York New Jersey Rail, LLC.

At Greenville Yard, operations by CSX Transportation occur through Conrail's North Jersey Shared Assets Area along the National Docks Secondary. In Brooklyn, connections extend to the New York and Atlantic Railway's Bay Ridge Branch and the South Brooklyn Railway. The barge crossing takes approximately 45 minutes, whereas an equivalent truck journey spans 35 to 45 minutes.

Freight trains have never utilized the electrified tunnels of the New York Tunnel Extension, which run beneath the Hudson Palisades, Hudson River, Manhattan, and East River due to ventilation limitations. Instead, freight overland crosses the Hudson River roughly 140 miles north via what is known as the Selkirk hurdle.

The proposed Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel would extend beneath the Upper Bay from Greenville Yard heading eastward; however, its eastern portal location remains undecided and subject to debate.

In May 2010, plans were announced by the Port Authority to acquire Greenville Yard and establish a barge-to-rail terminal aimed at handling between 60,000 and 90,000 containers of solid waste annually from New York City. This initiative is projected to eliminate up to 360,000 truck trips per year. The project secured $118.1 million in funding. Concurrently, upgrades are underway on the National Docks Secondary line to accommodate higher traffic volumes.

By September 2014, a $356 million capital investment was approved by the Port Authority to expand Greenville Yard with roll-on/roll-off capabilities. Scheduled for operation by mid-2016, this expansion targets an initial throughput capacity of no less than 125,000 container lifts each year.

Port Inland Distribution Network

The Port Inland Distribution Network (PIDN) focuses on creating transportation solutions to redistribute cargo and containers arriving at regional ports through barge and rail services, aiming to lessen truck congestion and minimize environmental effects. This effort is a joint collaboration among the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). In 2003, PANYNJ teamed up with the Port of Albany to initiate twice-weekly barge operations, which were eventually halted by 2014.

Service between Newark and Brooklyn to the Port of Davisville in Rhode Island commenced in 2018.

America's Marine Highway

America's Marine Highway is an initiative by the U.S. Department of Transportation designed to encourage freight transport via waterways. In 2016, MARAD granted $1.6 million for improvements at the Red Hook terminal under this program. That same year, container-on-barge service linking Red Hook and Newark was introduced in September.

Additionally, in 2010, a private barge operation began short sea shipping aggregate materials between Tremley Point in Linden on the Arthur Kill and the Port of Salem, filling a critical freight transport void associated with Delaware Valley ports.

Cruise terminals

The peak era for North Atlantic ocean liner voyages extended from the late 1800s through the post-World War II period, after which advances in aviation led to a decline in ocean liner demand. By the 1970s, many docking facilities along the North River (Hudson River) had fallen into disuse.

Currently, cruise travel is predominantly recreational. While numerous itineraries target the Caribbean and Southern Hemisphere, some vessels, including the , maintain scheduled transatlantic crossings to Southampton, England. Passenger cruise ship terminals are situated within the traditional "inner" harbor area. Collectively, these terminals rank as the sixth busiest across the United States and sixteenth worldwide by passenger volume:

Cape Liberty Cruise Port, located at MOTBY, Upper Bay
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, situated on Buttermilk Channel, Upper Bay
New York Passenger Ship Terminal, along the Hudson River

Ferries and sightseeing

Ferry operations connecting Staten Island with Lower Manhattan have been uninterrupted since the 18th century. The complimentary Staten Island Ferry crosses the Upper Bay between South Ferry and St. George Ferry Terminal, transporting approximately 75,000 passengers each day.

While East River ferry services ceased early in the 1900s and Hudson River routes ended during the 1960s, both have experienced restoration and growth starting in the 1980s. Current regular routes primarily serve destinations south of 42nd Street. Principal terminals include Hoboken Terminal, Battery Park City Ferry Terminal, Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal, Weehawken Port Imperial, Pier 11/Wall Street, West Midtown Ferry Terminal, and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing. Numerous single-route ferry docks also operate, such as the historic Fulton Ferry. Beyond commuter lines, services offer excursions, seasonal trips to beaches within the Gateway National Recreation Area, as well as sightseeing cruises around Manhattan or throughout Upper New York Bay.

Key operators and destinations encompass:

Lights and lighthouses

The harbor is home to an array of both vintage and contemporary lighthouses, with several no longer in operation:

Ambrose Light, Lower New York Bay (removed in 2008)
Bergen Point Light, Newark Bay (superseded)
Blackwell Island Light, Roosevelt Island, East River (ceased operation in 1940)
Chapel Hill Rear Range Light, Sandy Hook Bay (deactivated in 1957)
Conover Beacon, Leonardo, New Jersey
Coney Island Light, Lower New York Bay, Brooklyn
Elm Tree Beacon Light, The Narrows, Staten Island
Execution Rocks Light, Long Island Sound
Fort Tompkins Light, Staten Island (no longer active)
Fort Wadsworth Light, Brooklyn
Great Beds Light, Raritan Bay, South Amboy, New Jersey
Kings Point Light, Long Island Sound, Great Neck, New York
Kingsborough Community College Light, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Little Gull Island Light, Long Island Sound
Little Red Lighthouse (Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse), Manhattan
Navesink Twin Lights, Sandy Hook Bay, Highlands, New Jersey
New Dorp Light, Staten Island (retired)
North Brother Island Light, East River
Old Orchard Shoal Light, Gedney Channel, Lower Bay
Princes Bay Light, Staten Island
Robbins Reef Light, Constable Hook, Upper Bay
Romer Shoal Light, Lower Bay near Sandy Hook Bay
Sandy Hook Light, Sandy Hook
Staten Island Light at Lighthouse Hill
Statue of Liberty (functioned as a lighthouse until 1902), Liberty Island
Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Long Island Sound near City Island, Bronx
Stony Point Lighthouse, Hudson River
Throgs Neck Light, East River (decommissioned)
Titanic Memorial Lighthouse, South Street Seaport, East River
West Bank Light, Ambrose Channel, Lower Bay (range front)
Whitestone Point Light, Whitestone Point, East River

Land reclamation and ocean dumping

The practice of channelizing waterways and filling land began during colonial times and persisted well into the 20th century. The enlargement of Lower Manhattan’s footprint originated with the Dutch establishment of New Amsterdam in the 1600s. Initial fill materials consisted of discarded shells and waste; subsequently, debris from major infrastructure undertakings such as the New York City Subway and Pennsylvania Station was utilized. During World War II, rubble from London’s bombings was employed as ballast. Extensive land reclamation efforts led to the creation of areas like Battery Park City, Ellis Island, Liberty State Park, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Between 1924 and 1986, sewage sludge was transported offshore via tugboats and barges for disposal at sea. From 1986 through 1992, this dumping shifted farther out near Atlantic City before being completely prohibited. In addition to ocean dumping, barges conveyed waste to Fresh Kills Landfill—the largest landfill globally—from 1948 until its closure in 1991. These disposal activities adversely affected beaches along Long Island and the Jersey Shore, contributing to incidents such as the 1987 Syringe Tide.

Shipwrecks and abandoned boats

The port area contains numerous shipwrecks resting beneath the water’s surface; some remain visible while others lie submerged on the seabed. Among these sites is the notable Staten Island boat graveyard—a marine scrapyard located in the Arthur Kill near the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island’s West Shore.

Tourism and recreation

Within the port area, visitors can explore a variety of historic maritime landmarks, scenic walkways, and protected natural spaces such as:

South Street Seaport
USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum located at Pier 86
Gateway National Recreation Area
Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island along with Governor's Island
Hudson River Park, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, and Brooklyn Bridge Park
Liberty State Park including the historic Communipaw Terminal
Battery Park and the adjacent Castle Clinton
The Hackensack Meadowlands, featuring the Riverwalk and the Environment Center
Recreational spots such as Pier 63, the New York Central Railroad 69th Street Transfer Bridge, and the 79th Street Boat Basin
Gantry Plaza State Park
The extensive Manhattan Waterfront Greenway
The transportation hub at Hoboken Terminal
The quaint community of City Island

Economy

In 2010, the harbor welcomed 4,811 vessels transporting over 32.2 million metric tons of goods with an estimated value surpassing $175 billion. The port sector in New York-New Jersey contributed significantly by supporting:

170,770 direct employment opportunities
A total of 279,200 jobs across the NY-NJ metropolitan area
Close to $11.6 billion in wages for individuals
More than $37.1 billion in revenues for businesses
Nearly $5.2 billion collected in taxes at federal, state, and local levels

The port processes roughly 3.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containerized cargo annually alongside about 700,000 vehicles. During the first half of 2014, container traffic hit a six-month peak with 1,583,449 TEUs recorded, while October of that year set a new monthly high at 306,805 containers. The total throughput for containers reached 3,342,286 TEUs in 2014, with vehicle handling amounting to 393,931 units.

Between January and June 2015, leading imports into the port included petroleum products valued at $6.78 billion; household appliances totaling $3.80 billion; automobiles worth $2.59 billion; plastics amounting to $1.72 billion; electronic goods at $1.46 billion; chemicals valued at $1.45 billion; perfumes and oils worth $928.7 million; pharmaceuticals totaling $897.5 million; optical and photographic equipment at $801.8 million; and precious stones and metals valued at $562.4 million.

External links

Official homepage
PANYNJ Rail terminal and intermodal facilities
Port Master Plan 2050
US Coast Guard New York Sector
New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program
Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey (latest vessel departures and related data)
NY Times 2004 slideshow showcasing port facilities
Special arrangements and union influence at N.J. port