A Different Way to See the Shore

On Sunday, 60 people boarded the Captain John boat at Keyport to take a guided trip through the waters of the Raritan Bay, along the Arthur Kill separating New Jersey from Staten Island, into Newark Bay, and continuing along the Kill Van Kull before returning back home. 

For those on board the New York / New Jersey Baykeeper eco-cruise, this was an exciting opportunity to see what simply cannot be seen any other way. 

Passengers had a front row seat to see the oil refineries, co-generaton plants and massive ships stacked with colorful containers, like gigantic Legos. 

But they also glimpsed signs of nature's return along the marine channel, such as the astonishing sight of an osprey nest's balanced on top of a steamship's decaying boiler sunk under the water surface, trees sprouting on top of a gigantic Fresh Kills landfill, and a small island that was healing from decades of industrial waste and returning to its natural self.

"A little collection of jewels, green jewels," said Raritan Riverkeeper's Bill Schultz, taking a breather after giving a three hour information-packed guided tour over the speakers. (The Keasbey-based Riverkeeper operates under the umbrella of the Baykeeper organization.)  "Sure there are big tugboats, and dredging and cranes, but there are also small pockets of green spaces between industries, like between Kinder Morgan and Chevron in Perth Amboy. There are herons and birds nesting. We're trying to help people realize what's here." 

The weather on this July 10 was perfect, and passengers who paid $50 for a ticket to cruise took lots of photos, looked at lighthouses through binoculars, chatted with friends, basked in the sunshine with cold drinks. Some recognized a Staten Island church where they had made their First Holy Communion, or the town hall where their parents had married. Others named the bridges they passed under.

About half of the group were associated with the Holmdel-based Citizens for Informed Land Use, known as CILU. Others were followers of the non-profit Baykeeper events. 

The next cruise will be August 14, called the New York Harbor Lighthouse Tour. The comfortable and modern Captain John will ferry passengers to see the Old Orchard, West Bank, Romer Shoal and Sandy Hook Lighthouses -- most of which can only be seen by boat. Information is available on the Baykeeper website.