Sailboats Ship Freight to Manhattan for First Time in 60 Years

[n2doc]

Jackie Snow
for National Geographic

This past weekend, a flat-bottomed, two-mast sailboat 30 feet (9 meters) long came down the Hudson River at a brisk six-knot clip, hugging the Manhattan coast to avoid bigger boats. Commuter ferries, barges, tour boats, and pleasure vessels can always be found in the water surrounding New York City—which is, after all, an island at the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean. Ships under sail power are a regular sighting here too. But this particular sailboat, the Ceres, is special.

The Vermont Sail Freight Project built the boat this summer with a goal: to go back in time. With 12 tons of food from 30 Vermont farms in its holds, the Ceres became the first sailboat since the 1950s to land in New York City with goods. The cargo was destined for the New Amsterdam Market, restaurants, and customers who had placed orders online.

"Originally, I thought of the project as a kind of a publicity stunt," said Erik Andrus, a farmer and entrepreneur who heads the Vermont Sail Freight Project. But now, after a positive response to the project, Andrus thinks there’s real business potential in sailing produce in the Northeast again.

"We believe ... in rebuilding a regional food system that’s not petroleum dependent," he said. "If people ... receiving ... the food value that kind of resilience, then that’s a reason for them to get their maple syrup from us rather than from the local corner store."

more

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131101-shipping-freight-sailboats-green-transportation/

[NYC_SKP]

1. A facsinating business model, hope to see more like this combination of old with new.

SALES EN ROUTE

While we hope much of the cargo will be sold before we leave Vermont (this is the best way to ensure that it won't be sold before we reach you) we also expect to sail with some unsold cargo, which will listed for sale while the voyage is taking place. The barge will be connected to the internet and so can perform sales even while we are in the middle of the river.

Normally, our dockside function is one of delivery of pre-sold goods. However if our local partners endorse the idea of an impromptu farmers' market with cash sales we may offer this option in certain cases.

http://www.vermontsailfreightproject.com/the-project/trading-model.html

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Here's a good long discussion about the merits of a sail auxiliary commercial fishing boat

It's high on the list of things I consider cool ideas.

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/commercial-fishing-sailboat-35470.html

[HooptieWagon]

3. Its romantic and nostalgic....

But IMO not a vialbe business model without subsidies. Small cargo vessels are low profit. Sailing cargo vessels are low profit. Combining the two is a money-loser. I wish it wasn't the case, but its modern reality.

[Posteritatis]

4. I'm surprised the last instance of that was that recent. (nt)

[Populist_Prole]

6. I am as well. another interesting factoid is how long since the last rail freight was as well

While rail freight ( not car floats ) directly into manhattan ended in 1980, it was but a trickle by then from a steady decline from the 1950's due to competition from trucks/highways.

[Historic NY]

5. Nothing new....the Clearwater can carry 70 tons...

the problem is getting people to sign onto sending fresh stuff that gets their fresh. Ship like them dotted the river 2 centuries ago, they were designed for commercial trade to and from the city.

http://clearwater.org/pdf/memsail08.pdf

[FairWinds]

7. the last I heard . .

there was a similar project going on in the Seattle area. Not sure if it is still running.
Here is related news . .
http://www.resilience.org/stories/2012-08-25/rise-sail-transport-different-world-economy
We have thought about doing this in the islands of Western Lake Erie too - delivering community garden produce.
I love sailing and sailing history !!
Go for it !!

[Voice for Peace]

8. I LOVE this!!

k&r