The Arthur Kill River is located south of Newark, NJ, and just west of Staten Island. Though facilities are scarce until Perth Amboy (about 11 miles south), some boaters take the Arthur Kill River south from the north end of Staten Island versus heading around the east side of Staten Island. Both routes are equidistant. The area is heavy with commercial traffic at times, but it can be an interesting side trip if you are traveling south from New York City’s South Harbor.

The image above is a view from the northeast looking southwest over the Elizabethport Reach. To the right (west) is the town of Elizabethport, while to the left (east) is Staten Island and the town of Gulfport.

Use NOAA Chart 12327.

The approach to the north end of Arthur Kill Inlet begins just east of its opening at North of Shooters Island Reach on Kill Van Kull River. From the Kill Van Kull River southeast of Bergen Point, pickup flashing red “16” at the beginning of North of Shooters Island Reach. From here, head northwest to flashing red “15A,” where you should be able to see the North of Shooters Island Reach Range on the far shore.

Continue west until the channel starts to bend to the southwest into the Elizabethport Reach, which is visible in the image above. From here, the Kill Van Kull heads south for about 11 miles where it runs past the town of Perth Amboy (excellent marina and marine facilities) before emptying into Raritan Bay. There are three bridges on the journey south from North Staten Island and luckily, only one is an opening bridge, which is left open unless rail traffic is approaching. The rest are high vertical clearance fixed bridges.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.