Tugboat Ride
The sailing season has drawn to a close but W.O. Decker will be back on the harbor next season. Stay tuned for the details.
Take an exciting 75-minute ride on the last surviving New York-built wooden tugboat W.O. Decker, recently named “Tugboat of the Year” by the Steamship Historical Society of America. Cruises will explore New York Harbor, and views may include the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Battery, and Governors Island, as you set out on an adventure unlike any you’ve had before!
Public cruises aboard the 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker will be available through October 31, 2021. The ship will run tours on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays departing as follows:
Fridays: 1:15pm and 2:45pm
Saturdays: 1:15pm, 2:45pm, and 4:15pm
Sundays: 1:15pm, 2:45pm, and 4:15pm
Tickets to ride are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors/students, and $15 for kids. Book your tickets below!
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Decker requires climbing angled gangways and a step up and over her side from a floating deck. Must be age 10 or above to ride.
Advance reservations are recommended, and guests must check in 15 minutes before the scheduled tour. Please note that in accordance with NYC Emergency Executive Order 225, proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose will be required to board W.O. Decker for all guests age 12 and older, and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult. Proof of vaccination can be provided in the form of a physical immunization card, NY Excelsior Pass app, or the NYC COVID Safe app when you check in at the red welcome tent on Pier 16. Additionally, due to In accordance with current Federal and New York State COVID-19 guidance for public transportation, masks are required onboard W.O. Decker at all times.
If tickets are sold out for your preferred time please join our waitlist to be the first to learn of new ticket availability. You can also come by Pier 16 to try our day-of Cancellation Line for tickets that may be released for any of our scheduled cruises. To join the Cancellation Line, please stop by the red check-in tent on Pier 16 at least 15 minutes before your desired trip time. If there are any passengers who have not checked in, we will release tickets to the Cancellation Line, first come, first served. You will be able to pay for your ticket at that time with a credit card and be given a boarding pass to assemble at the W.O. Decker gangway.
Charter W.O. Decker
The historic tugboat W.O. Decker is the perfect backdrop for a group adventure, exciting corporate outing, or unforgettable celebration. W.O. Decker is available for photo and video shoots as well as custom, charter experiences including Museum-hosted history cruises, or special trips to some of the more hard-to-reach spots in New York Harbor. Click below to find out how to make W.O. Decker a part of your next event.
2018 Restoration
In 2018, our beloved tug W.O. Decker underwent a thorough overhaul and returned to the South Street Seaport Museum gloriously restored, thanks to public, private, and volunteer support. In 2019, W.O. Decker participated in the “Great North River Tugboat Race” and the Waterfront Alliance “Heroes of the Harbor Parade of Boats.” W.O. Decker once again serves as an educational and public sail platform.
Education Programs on W.O. Decker
W.O. Decker is available for educational programs middle school high school university, smaller groups, especially good for marine science studies or and getting close to various habitats and the working waterfront.
South Street Seaport Museum
By subway: Take the A, C, 2, 3, J, Z, 4, or 5 train to Fulton Street.
By bus: Take the M-15 SBS or M-15 to Fulton Street.
By water: The NYC Ferry, and New York Waterway provide service to Pier 11. The Staten Island Ferry provides services to Whitehall Terminal.
Parking: Parking lots can be found at Front and John Streets, as well as 294 Pearl Street.
About W.O. Decker
The last surviving New York-built, wooden tugboat W.O. Decker was built in Long Island City, Queens, in 1930 by the Newtown Creek Towing Company. Originally named Russell I, after the towing company’s owners, she was renamed W.O. Decker in 1946 after being sold to the Decker family’s Staten Island tugboat firm. The tugboat was donated to the Seaport Museum in 1986. W.O. Decker is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an exemplary model of the types of steam tugs that were once an abundant sight in New York Harbor. This unique vessel is a true testament to New York City’s maritime heritage, which is a direct factor in the city’s global prominence today.