Hudson River Highway Project
Expanding economic growth of our rich farmlands in the upper Hudson River and
Champlain Valleys by providing reliable, low-cost river transport to markets in NYC
Conceptual sketch of a 120-ft. catamaran cargo vessel capable of hauling 15 refrigerated trailers carrying 50 tons of farm products down the Hudson River from Albany to NYC ports.
Abstract: Small to medium-sized farms in our state are producing at limited capacities. This is partly because of increasing costs of transportation to the lucrative markets in NYC. During and since the Covid epidemic, truck leasing, maintenance, and labor used to deliver upper Hudson Valley farm products have jumped. By lowering our regional growers’ operating costs, we can help farms expand and encourage new starts to thrive. In addition, land prices in the upper Hudson Valley region are lower than in downstate areas. This is an advantage for farmers who wish to expand production and for young farmers wanting to begin a new farm enterprise. Our proposed cost-effective, marine transport system using the Hudson River promises a reliable supply of fresh food from Albany to piers in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. The system design anticipates using electric drive cargo vessels that are purpose-built, each with a capacity to haul over 50 tons of fresh food. In the eastern region of New York, we currently have the technology and the industrial capability to realize this vision. A short feasibility study using logistics modeling and a one-growing-season pilot program can provide Proof of Concept and practical design options for cutting transport costs. Our waterborne service on the Hudson will be a double “win” for New York State, supporting agriculture and expanding access to fresh, healthy food for NYC residents.
The Problem: According to the NYS Council on Hunger and Food Policy 2024 annual report, “…from 2012 to 2022, hired (farm) labor expenditures grew by 68 percent, far surpassing other categories. Despite economic growth between 2012 and 2022, the state lost close to 14 percent of its farms and over nine percent of farmland. New York is losing farms and land faster than nationwide averages.” Further challenging our regional farms are the major distributors who truck massive quantities of food cross-country from growers in Mexico, the west coast, the Midwest, and southern states. Drought, animal diseases, long-distance transportation, and farm labor issues are current western food chain problems that impact the resilience of supplies to NYC.
During the Covid epidemic, there was a noticeable decrease in available food shipments from other states. Large midwestern meat processing plants shut down, causing unacceptable levels of food insecurity and general shortages in many city neighborhoods. Some nonprofits like The Skyline Charitable Foundation sent their own trucks to farms north of the city for fresh produce for delivery to community organizations in the Bronx Post-Covid, regional farms in the Hudson Valley have found trucking their products to be increasingly unsustainable.
One example is a farmer in Washington County who uses a 20-ft box truck to deliver 4.5 tons of vegetables. This requires two farm employees working 10-15 hours. The average cost of the trip in 2024 was over $1,200. Expenditures for purchasing or leasing a truck, vehicle maintenance, and farm labor continue to increase and erode the already slim margins for most small to medium size farms. Adding to the cost and uncertainty of road transport is the wear and tear on farm trucks using major arteries, bridges, and tunnels into the city. While traffic jams further impact labor costs, truck drivers are also in short supply. Our Hudson River Highway Project focuses on implementing achievable, near-term solutions over the next 3-5 years.
The Solution: Marine transport on the Hudson River from Albany to city borough piers 1. Functional vessel design: Working with Scarano Boat Building, Albany NY, and with funding from the Skyline Charitable Foundation, we asked the shipyard to create an engineering concept sketch of a 120 ft catamaran cargo vessel. The boat will carry 15 custom-sized, refrigerated trailers at 14 knots (see illustration below). This twin-hull design adds stability, speed, and capacity for Roll on-Roll off (RO-RO) operations, exactly the low draft vessel needed for our water route to four major boroughs. Efficient electric drive propulsion cuts energy usage, emissions, and travel time compared to slow-moving diesel tug and barge configurations. This vessel is capable of transporting 50 tons of food down river and backhaul cargo headed north.
2. Enhanced efficiency and food security: Fifteen refrigerated trailers at the Port of Albany make the smooth, ten-hour ride down river with the vessel tying to a city pier in each borough. The last-mile city distribution uses pier warehouses and local roads, relieving the need to use congested bridges, tunnels, and major city arteries. We expect this regional food supply to grow each year, adding to the resiliency of the vital food system, even during adverse events affecting road transport.
3. Reliable scheduling: As more low-maintenance and high-efficiency vessels are added to the weekly pickup schedule, farmer confidence will encourage additional participation in this streamlined logistics system. Economic scaling to meet growing supply and demand will require close coordination and planning, as increased deliveries to food markets, institutions, hospitals, restaurants, and food banks results in financially sustainable operations.
4. Zero carbon emissions: The battery-powered propulsion plant design allows any pier facility to recharge the vessel’s battery pack during vessel loading and unloading operations. Our goal is a quiet, streamlined, zero emissions river vessel.
5. Promote economic growth: By increasing fresh food flowing from our state’s northern farms to NYC, we expect growth to be evident in several job sectors, including: expansion of existing farm capacity and new farm starts, river vessel design and construction, vessel operation and maintenance, logistics systems management, pier side loading and unloading, last mile cargo bike distribution.
Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Freshness of Food Off the Farm: For NYC residents, product freshness and nutritional value are key benefits to purchasing from our regional farmers. It is a clear advantage over food trucked for days from farms and warehouses on the west coast and the Midwest. Our Hudson River logistics system is designed to maintain the freshness of vegetables, fruit, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy using refrigerated trailers from the farm to final unloading at the customer site. Most farmers already have a pickup truck to haul their filled, refrigerated trailer to the pier in Albany. While at the pier, the farmer hitches an empty trailer for the return trip back to the farm.
Alternative Winter Transport: Vegetable and fruit products are mostly seasonal, but grains, dairy, meat, eggs, maple syrup, craft beer, and wine are examples of products that continue to flow from our region during winter months. Road transport to points south on the Hudson River may be necessary for two winter months during the year, depending on river conditions.
Initial Investment: Upfront capital investments for this specially designed vessel will result in efficient, low-maintenance cargo transport that can reliably meet a demanding schedule of pickup and delivery to NYC. Initial capital will be through grants and public-private partnerships. It is also possible that initial subsidies will mitigate the farmer’s cost to use the service. Technological Integration and Environmental Impact: Current transport systems use fossil fuels for powering trucks and vessels. Battery electric drive propulsion is already proven and mature for river shipping vessels. In addition, battery technology is constantly improving extended range, safety, and reliability – important components for schedule adherence. At every point, our system design is free of fossil fuels, engine noise, and toxic emissions.
Developing a feasibility study and pilot program
Design and implementation of a short-term feasibility study and a pilot program using one growing season’s products may be the best way to demonstrate Proof of Concept (POC). This would include three elements:
1. Farm survey – A survey would include the following counties: Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Greene, Schoharie, Columbia, Albany, and Schenectady. The survey will also include regional farm organizations and those training and incubating the next generation of new farm starts in the upper Hudson region. Data collected will indicate the potential for growth of existing and new farms, allowing us to better predict future transport needs.
2. POC vessel – Harbor Harvest is a 65 ft, zero emissions, electric drive catamaran cargo vessel currently operating out of Norwalk, Conn. We can use this vessel as a test run from Albany to NYC piers, collecting data, such as cargo types and quantities, loading and unloading times, river conditions, energy usage, best city borough pier landing sites, scheduling variations, and other real-time delivery issues. We can also test backhauling products from NYC to upriver ports using data analysis to develop an economically sustainable river transport operation.
3. Last-mile delivery in city boroughs – To assess the final delivery process, refrigerated trailers hitched to an electric pickup truck will transport products from city piers to final destinations in each borough. Data collected will include best transfer station locations, use of cargo bike deliveries, routes and times for least traffic interruptions, road conditions and miles, labor, and recharging needs.
Conclusionh3>
This paper outlines the vision and strategic approach for the Hudson River Highway Project, inviting stakeholders to rethink the region’s transportation system for farm products. The Project represents an achievable solution to the transportation challenges faced by farmers in the upper Hudson Valley. By leveraging battery-powered technology and innovative vessel design, this project aims to create a sustainable, efficient, and resilient transportation network from farm to neighborhood outlet. River transport will guarantee the continuous and growing flow of upstate farm products to New York City, while significantly reducing the environmental impact of our current trucking paradigm.
To realize these clear advantages, we seek collaboration with regional farmers, farm organizations, shipyard building and repair facilities, technology partners, state and local agencies, universities, and private foundations. Together, we can use technological innovation to drive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and food security. Our initiative will serve as an example to similar regions in the country that have farms near navigable river frontage.</
Contact: Charlie Duveen | 518-409-1784 | charlie@hudsonriverhighway.com