Buffalo Harbor is at the east end of Lake Erie, where the lake converges to an open and comparatively shallow bay about 8 miles across north and south and is subject to great storms from the southwest. The lake discharges into the Niagara River at the northeast corner of this bay. The city of Buffalo, NY, is along the east lakeshore and the east bank of the head of the Niagara River. Buffalo River meanders through the city from east to west and enters the lake near the head of the Niagara River. (130) Waterborne commerce at the port is in iron ore, limestone, iron and steel products, petroleum and coal products, grain, sand, tar, cement, salt, other minerals and general and containerized cargo in the foreign and domestic trades.
Prominent features:
The stacks at Lackawanna Canal near the south end of the harbor are the most conspicuous objects when approaching Buffalo Harbor. Also prominent are the HSBC Bank building and the City Hall tower in downtown Buffalo.
Buffalo Harbor Light (42°52’14″N., 78°54’09″W.), 71 feet above the water, is shown from a white tower on the south end of the detached west breakwater on the north side of Buffalo Harbor North Entrance Channel. A mariner radio-activated sound signal at the light is initiated by keying the microphone five times on VHFFM channel 83A.
Channels:
A federal project provides for dredged channels in an Outer Harbor formed by breakwaters parallel with the shore and in Buffalo River, Buffalo Ship Canal and Black Rock Canal. The north and south entrances to the Outer Harbor are marked by lights on the ends of the breakwaters; the north entrance is also marked by lighted buoys. There is a strong north current across the north entrance channel; navigators should guard against this by holding up toward the south. The Outer Harbor provides a safe harbor of refuge and anchorage and is also used extensively by large lake vessels as a channel. Vessels seeking anchorage and small vessels passing along the breakwaters are cautioned against approaching them nearer than 100 feet in order to avoid striking the stone riprap.
Lackawanna Canal extends south for 0.75 mile from the south end of the Outer Harbor. The entrance is marked by private lights. In 1977, the reported controlling depth was 26½ feet. Union Canal extends east for about 0.8 mile from the south end of the Outer Harbor. In 1977, the controlling depth in the dredged section was 20½ feet. The dredged section of the Buffalo River extends southeast and then generally east for about 5.8 miles from the north end of the Outer Harbor to the ConRail railroad bridge. The entrance to the river is marked by lights and buoys. The river is subject to extensive shoaling. Navigation is possible above the dredged channel to Bailey Avenue Bridge; however, submerged rocks above the bridge render navigation very hazardous.
From about 1,000 feet downstream from the junction of the Buffalo River and Buffalo Ship Canal upstream for about 1 mile, the river bottom is soft clay and mud overlying rock to a depth ranging from 1 to several feet. Vessels grounding in this portion of the river are seldom damaged by contact with the bottom. Above this point for about 1 mile, the channel is cut through solid rock.
Buffalo Ship Canal extends southeast for about 1.4 miles from the inner end of Buffalo River Entrance Channel.
Black Rock Canal Entrance Channel, marked by lights and buoys, extends north from the north end of the Outer Harbor. Black Rock Canal is the navigable channel of the upper Niagara River as far north as Tonawanda and is discussed more fully under Niagara River. The Lake Erie west terminus of the Erie branch of the New York State Canal System is at Tonawanda.
Anchorages:
The Outer Harbor is all good anchorage ground, except that the bottom is very soft clay south of the middle gap of the breakwaters. There are about 22 large mooring rings on the breakwater adjoining the North Entrance Channel and 25 on the breakwater adjoining the South Entrance Channel. Vessels are permitted to moor to the breakwaters with manila or synthetic lines, but not with wire rope or chains. Vessels are requested not to anchor north of Berthing Area 11. Vessels not longer than 550 feet will be permitted to anchor in Berthing Areas 11 through 17. However, no anchorage will be permitted in Berthing Areas 11 through 24 until vessel traffic to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority pier at the foot of Michigan Avenue has ended for the navigation season, and then only by permission from the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, NY. Anchorage will be permitted in berthing areas south of Berthing Area 24 with no restrictions as to length of vessel. The berthing areas are all marked by large orange numbers painted on the harbor face of the breakwaters. An explosives anchorage is in Outer Harbor. A special anchorage is in the small-craft basin on the east side of Outer Harbor.
Dangers:
Numerous unmarked detached shoal spots with depths less than 30 feet are in the east end of Lake Erie, in the approaches to Buffalo Harbor and the Niagara River. Waverly Shoal, with a least depth of 10 feet, is 1.9 miles west-southwest of Buffalo Harbor Light. Depths of 18 feet extend about 0.4 mile north and 1 mile south from the shallowest part of the shoal.
Unmarked 20-foot shoals are 1.4 and 2.6 miles southwest of Buffalo Harbor Light. An artificial reef is 1.9 miles south-southeast of Buffalo Harbor Light in about 42°50’41″N., 78°53’27″W.
Fluctuations of water level:
The water level of Lake Erie at Buffalo is frequently affected, usually for periods of less than 12 hours, by strong southwest or northeast winds. It is reported that these winds may raise or lower water levels by as much as 6 feet. The record fluctuations recorded are 10½ feet above and 4½ feet below Low Water Datum.
The records of the monthly mean stages at Buffalo show that the periods of lowest water during the navigation season are in the spring and fall, the latter being the busiest time of the year in the harbor, when the necessity for deep water is greatest.
Currents:
There is very little current in the outer harbor except during sudden fluctuations of water level, which may cause considerable current, especially in the entrance channels. The currents in the river are reported to reach velocities of 3 to 5 mph, changing direction and velocity abreast Buffalo Ship Canal. Rapid fluctuations in Lake Erie produce quite strong currents in the river within 1 mile of the mouth, inflowing or outflowing as the case may be. Heavy rainfalls and spring freshets are attended by strong outflowing currents due to rapid rises of the river and the consequent discharge of flood water. These conditions cause difficulties to navigation and sometimes damage to vessels by tearing them from their moorings but occur only two or three times each year and for only a few hours at a time. With heavy rainfalls, it is reported that currents in the river sometimes reach velocities of 6 to 10 knots.
Ice:
Heavy ice forms in the river, usually in January. A narrow channel is kept open through the ice by tugs, but the ice remains in place because the east end of Lake Erie also freezes over, and the harbor entrance is usually blocked with ice from January to March or April. The ice usually goes out in the spring during a freshet in the river, and the combined effect of the then prevailing strong outflowing currents and the heavy moving ice is at times very great and may last for 2 or 3 days. During this time, the liability of damage to vessels is considerable. Heavy ice forms in the Buffalo Ship Canal in winter, usually in January. A narrow channel is kept open through the ice by tugs, but the ice remains in place, the same as in the Buffalo River. The ice drifts out on the opening of the entrance channel in March or April, or melts in place, and its breaking up in the spring is not attended with the same liability to damage as in the case of the Buffalo River.
Towage:
Tugs to 1,250 hp are available at Buffalo. Arrangements for tugs are made through the Great Lakes Towing Co. dispatcher in Cleveland at 800–321–3663 or on VHF-FM channels 16, 10, 12 and 18A via remote antenna. The tugs’ VHF-FM channels include 16, 6, 12, 14 and 18A. At least 4 hours advance notice is requested. City regulations require that all vessels that require the opening of one or more bridges while navigating in the Buffalo River must have the assistance of one or more tugs when approaching and passing these bridges. Vessels navigating stern first are required to have a tug on the stern and a tug on the bow.
Quarantine, customs, immigration and agricultural quarantine:
Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. Buffalo is a customs port of entry.
Coast Guard:
The Buffalo Coast Guard Station and Sector Office are on the south side of the entrance to the Buffalo River.
Harbor regulations:
A speed limit of 6 mph (5.2 knots) is enforced in Buffalo Harbor except in the Outer Harbor where the speed limit is 10 mph (8.7 knots).
Local harbor regulations are established by the Corporation Counsel and enforced by the harbormaster, who may be reached at City Hall. Vessels shall not approach or pass any movable bridge at a speed exceeding 3 mph (2.6 knots). Copies of the regulations may be obtained from the Corporation Counsel, City Hall, Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202.
Wharves:
Buffalo has wharves in the Outer Harbor, Buffalo Ship Canal and in Buffalo River. See the Buffalo Facilities table for a list of major wharves in Buffalo Harbor. All of the facilities have direct highway connections and most have rail connections. Water is available at many of the piers and wharves.
Supplies:
Water, provisions and marine supplies are available at Buffalo. Bunker fuel and diesel fuel are delivered to vessels at their berths by tank vessels. Arrangements should be made through ships’ agents. Occasionally tank trucks supply vessels with bunker fuel.
Repairs:
There are no facilities for drydocking or hauling out large, deep-draft vessels. Two companies that have no waterfront facilities maintain shops and portable equipment for making above-the-waterline repairs and for installing equipment and machinery.
Small-craft facilities:
Erie Basin, close north of the mouth of the Buffalo River, is the site of the city’s marina. Transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, electricity, sewage pumpout facilities, marine supplies, a launching ramp, and minor engine repairs are available. In 1977, depths of 20 feet were reported in the entrance channel and alongside the berths, with 17 feet alongside the gasoline dock. The Buffalo harbormaster maintains an office in Erie Basin; telephone, 716–842–0452.
A state park and small-craft basin are on the east side of Buffalo Outer Harbor about 2.3 miles southeast of the mouth of Buffalo River. The basin has a marina with 1,000 slips and launching ramps.
Measured course:
A measured mile, statute and nautical, is marked on the east face of the breakwater at the north end of the Outer Harbor.
Information from Coast Pilot: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp6/CPB6_WEB.pdf. Chart reference: 14833
