LAST RUN ON THE RIVER

Last February 27th I decided to “hang up my anchor”. I had been working for the Sandy Hook and Hudson River Pilots for over 42 years. That day I piloted the tanker Afrodite down through the ice out of the Port of Albany and brought her safely to Yonkers – It was my last run! People often ask me what I’ll miss most about working on the “River”. My immediate response is always the same, namely the people I meet and work with! Spinning a ship around in the Port of Albany and helping it wend it’s way along is not an easy task and depends on the help of many others to make it happen safely. It all starts with the goodbye hug from my wife as I leave the house. Then I meet the security guard at the port who greets me and checks me through to the ship. Next I meet the agent (whose job it is to please everyone) who then gives me the OK that everything is ready. As I walk along the berth I greet the line handlers who are happy to know that their job is at hand as they shift back and forth with the cold.  MORE