Hidden Harbor Tours: What Are They?

The Working Harbor Committee sponsors tours of New York and New Jersey's working waterfront--places that are normally hidden from the eyes of most area residents and visitors. We call them Hidden Harbor Tours®.

We offer these tours throughout the summer, typically from May to October. Tours are narrated by people who know the harbor intimately-- tugboat captains, maritime historians and other experts. We visit places like the tugboat berths in Erie Basin and Kill Van Kull; container, break-bulk, oil and car ports in Brooklyn and New Jersey; Newtown Creek; and many other locations.

The world of working maritime vessels and facilities is both fascinating as well as vital to the area's economic well being. Want to know where your Toyota came in? How the ingredients for your chocolate bar got here? How your trash is removed? Welcome to the working waterfront.

Note that the tours do not use tugs. To find out when tours are scheduled, please sign up for our newsletter.

Watch Our Virtual Tour of Miller's Launch

While the Hidden Harbor Tours are on hold during COVID, we offer behind-the scenes video tours.

Welcome to the Working Harbor Committee’s introduction to our new YouTube series, “Celebrating the Maritime Industry.” The series will highlight tugboat companies and other maritime organizations, showing how they do what they do to keep our harbors running.

Please enjoy the first video: Miller’s Launch, featuring Capt. Glen Miller.