NYPA Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2026

Contact: Jackie Schillinger | 518-281-5510 | jackie.schillinger@nypa.gov

 

New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation Announce Christening of Rome Tugboat

 

Vessel Named to Honor City of Rome Where Construction on the Original Erie Canal Began on July 4, 1817

 

New Tug Rome Viewable at City’s Canalfest Saturday, Aug. 1 in Bellamy Harbor Park

 

Two Additional Canal Tugboats Being Manufactured with Delivery Set for 2027

 

Photos of the Rome Tugboat Available Here

 

Rome, N.Y.--The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York State Canal Corporation today announced the christening of the Tug Rome, the second of four new tugboats to join its marine fleet as part of the Canal Corporation’s modernization of its maintenance vessels that help keep the 524-mile New York State Canal system in operation. The christening ceremony occurred today in the City of Rome’s Bellamy Harbor Park, along the Erie Canal in Oneida County, ahead of the community’s annual Canalfest on Aug. 1.

 

"Rome is the birthplace of the Erie Canal so it is fitting to name this new tug as the city’s namesake,” said New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation Trustee and Canal Recreationist Bea Gonzalez. “Not only did the city serve as the starting point for the construction of the original Erie Canal in 1817, but it also continues to thrive along today’s canal, truly embodying the Canal Corporation’s mission of promoting accessible recreation, culture, and economic development. Rome’s scenic waterfront Bellamy Harbor Park is a perfect spot to welcome this new boat into our fleet.”

Rome has been a significant Canal community for more than two centuries. Situated at the junction of the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River—and with the Erie Canalway Trail running directly through the city—Rome was designated this year as an Empire State Trail Town by Parks & Trails NY in recognition of its work to enhance the trail locally and create a welcoming environment for trail users. Bellamy Harbor Park serves as a central hub for canalside activity, including the recently opened Bellamy Harbor Skate Park. In addition to the all-day Canalfest, where the Tug Rome will be on display, the Albany Symphony performed the second installment of its Water Music series there earlier this month.

 

New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Welcoming the TugRome into the Canal Corporation’s maintenance fleet marks our latest investment in the resilience of New York State’s canals. This new vessel reflects our continued commitment to safe, reliable operations across these waterways, and will help us support the communities and industries that rely on them each day.”

 

New York State Canal Corporation Director Ben Walsh said, “I am thankful for our ‘canal craft,’ which is what we call the work that goes into maintaining this historic system day-in-and-day-out. Our intrepid crews are tireless and resourceful, and the addition of this vessel will only help to strengthen their efforts so that these waters continue to serve communities and visitors for centuries to come.”

 

Staffed by Canal Corporation tugboat captains and floating plant personnel, the Rome tugboat will be stationed on the Erie Canal in Oneida County. The new inland steel tug at 64.5-feet long will support operations required to maintain navigation along the Canal system between Schenectady and Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake. Some of this work includes buoy placement and retrieval, movement of spoils in hopper or dump scows, transporting of dredge pipe, and mobilizing hydraulic and mechanical dredge units. In addition, the new tug has ice breaking capabilities built into its design with thicker steel and tighter spaced framing in the bow.

 

TugRome was built by Blount Builders Inc. of Warren, Rhode Island. The Canal Corporation welcomed the TugThomas X.Grasso into its fleet in September in Fairport. That tug was named after longtime president of the Canal Society of New York State who passed away in 2022. Two additional tugs now in production at Blount’s facility are scheduled to be delivered in 2027. These new tugs will be placed into service alongside the TugSyracuse, a 1934 tugboat built by the State of New York that has been the primary workhorse of the Canal Corporation’s maintenance fleet since its launch.

 

Senator Joe Griffo said, “Strategically and conveniently located, Rome has been an important community along the Erie Canal for more than 200 years. Christening this new vessel the Tug Rome honors the city's legacy and the pivotal role it played in shaping commerce, connecting communities, transforming transportation, and fundamentally changing the economy of New York State and the nation.”

 

Assembly member Maryanne Buttenschon said,“Rome is more than just where the Erie Canal began, it’s where Romans’ ingenuity broke ground, engineered the route, and where through shear grit and determination constructed the canal that opened a young America to the West and laid the foundation to New York’s reputation as the Empire State. Today, the Canal system remains a vital piece of our regional economy, our recreation, and our community’s story, and reflects the legacy of innovation, hard work, and determination that continues to define this City today more than 200 years later. I extend my gratitude to Director Walsh and to the members of the Canal Corporation for honoring Rome’s place in this history and look forward to seeing the Tug Rome on community display in the harbor this Canalfest weekend.”

 

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said, "The Erie Canal helped shape the history and growth of Oneida County, and Rome has been at the heart of that story since construction of the original canal began here more than 200 years ago. It is fitting that this new vessel bears the name 'Rome' as it begins its service supporting one of New York's greatest engineering and economic assets. We are proud to celebrate this christening and the Canal Corporation's continued investment in preserving and modernizing the canal system for future generations while honoring the communities that built its legacy."

 

City of Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan said, "The arrival of the Canal Corporation's new tugboatROME is a tremendous honor for our community. It is especially meaningful that this vessel bears the name of our city, where the first shovel of dirt was turned to begin construction of the Erie Canal—a project that transformed New York State and our nation. We are proud of our rich canal heritage and grateful that the name 'Rome' will continue to travel the waterways of New York for years to come."

 

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Bob Radliff said, "TugRome is a welcome addition to our historic canal system and her name is a fitting tribute to where it all began. We're pleased to see this vessel join the ranks of working tugs and wish her Canal Corporation crew many seasons of productive maintenance on the waterway."

 

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About the New York State Canal Corporation

 

New York’s Canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga – Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique communities.

 

The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority.

 

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