A federal law banning new barge anchorages on the Hudson River has been enacted, permanently preventing additional sites for commercial barges to dock.
The Hudson River Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., was signed into law by President Trump as part of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The measure cites concerns about drinking water safety and environmental damage.
The law makes permanent a prohibition that had previously been subject to administrative changes, effectively ending future efforts to establish new barge anchorages on the Hudson.
Ryan introduced the bill in 2023 after the U.S. Coast Guard indicated it might allow new anchorage sites for commercial vessels. Supporters argued that barges carrying oil and other hazardous materials posed a risk to water supplies. The Hudson River provides primary drinking water for seven mid-Hudson municipalities and serves as a backup supply for New York City.
“If there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s making sure our drinking water is clean and that our Hudson River is safe and protected,” Ryan said. “Never again will big corporations be able to turn our River into a parking lot for dangerous barges, polluting the drinking water for 100,000 of our neighbors.”
The law drew bipartisan support, including from Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who said, “The Hudson River has faced serious ecological challenges for decades, and this law makes clear that our towns, homeowners, and riverfront communities come first.”
Environmental groups and local governments also backed the ban.
Maritime industry groups, including the American Waterways Operators, oppose the legislation, citing limited existing anchorage capacity and stressing that anchoring is critical for navigation safety, particularly in bad weather.
