PortSide NewYork

What PortSide NewYork does

PortSide NewYork is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime education and community organization founded in 2005 and headquartered aboard the historic 172-foot coastal oil tanker MARY A. WHALEN — the last of its kind in the USA, listed on the National Register of Historic Places — at Pier 11, Atlantic Basin, Red Hook, Brooklyn. The organization operates as a "living lab for better urban waterways," delivering K-12 and adult educational programs (including CTE internships), community resiliency training, public TankerTime hours, waterfront tours, and visiting-vessel hosting for a broad audience spanning NYC Public Schools, SUNY Maritime College, Red Hook residents (including NYCHA), and visitors arriving via the adjacent NYC Ferry stop. Beyond the ship, PortSide operates the Red Hook WaterStories e-museum (built on Omeka), which archives 400+ years of coastal history and serves as a community revitalization and resiliency guide.

The organization's core products and assets center on the MARY A. WHALEN itself, the Red Hook WaterStories digital platform, the TankerTime public-access program, African-American Maritime Heritage programming, and planned marine-engineering and Coast Guard license training once the ship achieves "Attraction Vessel" status. Underlying technology is limited and content-centric: Omeka CMS for the e-museum, a Davis weather station broadcasting real-time weather and AQI data under the station name PortSide MaryWhalen, and standard social/web channels. The organization holds no patents and operates no proprietary AI/ML systems; technology serves a content-distribution and visitor-engagement role rather than a product-engineering role.

The revenue model is donation-driven, supplemented by episodic earned income. Primary inflows include tax-deductible donations through Network for Good and Venmo (@PortSideNY), government grants (notably a $231,000 FEMA Sandy Alternate Project contribution in 2017 and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs/DYCD program funding), individual major gifts (e.g., $20,000 from Gerry Weinstein in December 2022), corporate sponsorships (ConEdison), in-kind equipment donations (vintage engine from Kennett, Missouri and auxiliaries from Carver Companies), location-rental fees for events (e.g., $30 sunset sails with Hudson River Sloop Clearwater), and a small e-commerce photo-print sales line. The #makeMARYrunagain capital campaign targets ship restoration. Customer segments are diversified across students, the general public, Red Hook residents, event organizers, and prospective maritime trainees, but revenue concentration risk is meaningful given reliance on episodic capital inflows and a single landlord counterparty (NYC EDC).

Name

PortSide NewYork

Legal name

PortSide NewYork

Website

https://portsidenewyork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PortSide NewYork is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime education organization operating aboard the historic MARY A. WHALEN oil tanker in Red Hook, Brooklyn, delivering K-12 and adult maritime education, community resiliency programming, public tours, and the Red Hook WaterStories e-museum to students, Red Hook residents, and waterfront visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Education and Community Cultural Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

Keywords

• Maritime education
• Historic ship preservation
• Waterfront community programs
• Cultural heritage nonprofit
• Harbor resiliency education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and General Fund: PortSide accepts tax-deductible donations through Network for Good, Venmo (@PortSideNY), checks, and in-kind donations of goods, services, and volunteer time. Registered 501(c)3 organization listed with GuideStar.
2. Capital Campaign - #makeMARYrunagain: Capital campaign to restore the MARY A. WHALEN engine and complete FEMA Sandy recovery project. Donations specifically for making the historic ship operational again.
3. Location Rental and Event Space: The MARY A. WHALEN and pier space available for private events, fundraising sails, and special occasions.
4. Photo Sales: Sales of archival photographs by founder Carolina Salguero supporting the Sandy recovery project. Digital prints made to order by SpectraflowEast.com.
5. Maritime Training Revenue: Planned future revenue stream from marine engineering training programs and Coast Guard license training, once ship achieves 'Attraction Vessel' status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PortSide NewYork delivers maritime education, community programming, and waterfront cultural-heritage experiences from aboard the historic MARY A. WHALEN oil tanker moored in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Its offerings include shipboard educational programs, TankerTime public-access hours, the Red Hook WaterStories e-museum, venue and ship rentals, photography sales, and resiliency and harbor-history education.

Product overview

PortSide NewYork operates as a living lab for better urban waterways, offering maritime education, community programs, and historic preservation centered around the MARY A. WHALEN tanker. The core offerings include public tours (TankerTime), the digital e-museum (Red Hook WaterStories), educational programs for youth and adults, resiliency education, visiting vessel hosting, location rentals, and photography sales. The organization functions as a nonprofit with programs serving diverse audiences from elementary students to PhD candidates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Hook WaterStories: PortSide New York's e-museum and digital maritime museum covering 400+ years of Red Hook and Brooklyn waterfront history
• MARY A. WHALEN
• TankerTime
• PortSide Park
• BLUEspace

Products and services

• Maritime Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Sandy aid station helped hundreds of Red Hook residents and small businesses recover from hurricane Sandy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carver CompaniescoreOthers · 19 December 2022Donated all engine room auxiliary parts from the tug CHANCELLOR which was scrapped. These parts represent most of what is needed in the engine room to #makeMARYrunagain.
• Kennett, Missouri City Power PlantcoreOthers · 15 August 2020Donated a 1941 Fairbanks Morse engine from their power plant to PortSide for use in restoring the 1938 engine in the MARY A. WHALEN. The engine was shipped and received on 8/15/20.
• McAllister TransportationminorOthersProvided other engine parts for the restoration project.
• Whitworth MarinecoreTechnology or IntegrationLead advisor on marine engineering, particularly for the vintage 1938 Fairbanks Morse 37E12 engine restoration. Nobby Peers serves as the primary marine engineer advisor.
• Civic Architecture WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm led by Severn Clay-Youman (board member of Cora Dance) providing lead architect services for the warehouse space planning and conversion.
• MADE Architecture FirmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Red Hook architecture firm offered to design the proposed small wet lab structure at the south end of Pier 11 shed.
• Cora DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization whose founder Shannon Hummel explained the potential of warehouse space to impact Red Hook and the performing arts community. Potential for community meetings, events and performances.
• H.L. General ContractorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal firm offered to donate the conversion of existing office suite and adding proper public bathroom. They constructed buildings for BASIS school and Red Hook Initiative.
• AE SuperlabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm that brought a model of the building to the NYC EDC meeting and presented plans for the space.
• District Council 9 - IUPATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion provided labor from 2016-2019 to restore the exterior paint of MARY, using the ship as a training site. Partnership: PortSide provided location, DC9 provided labor and training.
• Hudson River Sloop ClearwatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization offering joint sunset fundraiser sails aboard their sloop. Programs include 'Pint-size Pirate' children's events. Clearwater docks next to MARY A. WHALEN.
• NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC)coreOthersCurrent landlord managing Atlantic Basin site. PortSide has been in ongoing negotiations since 2008 for building space promised but not delivered. EDC is replanning the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) as of 2024.
• Red Hook Container Terminal LLCcoreOthersDonated home for MARY A. WHALEN from September 2011 to June 2015, including electricity, labor and storage space.
• American Stevedoring, Inc.coreOthersProvided free home for MARY A. WHALEN from 2006-2011 with electricity, labor and storage space. Unloaded and stored engine parts in their warehouse.
• ConEdisonminorOthersSponsor of PortSide NewYork as shown in sponsor logos section.
• NYC Department of Cultural AffairsminorOthersFunder/sponsor of PortSide NewYork programs.
• NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)minorOthersFunder of youth education programs as shown in sponsor logos.
• Councilman Carlos MenchacacoreOthersNegotiated with NYC EDC to secure space for MARY A. WHALEN in 2015 and has provided ongoing strong support for efforts to get building space.
• Congresswoman Nydia VelazquezcoreOthersSupported efforts to negotiate with NYC EDC during 2019 and helped secure federal DOE funding for school year 2022-23 resiliency program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Working Harbor Committee: NYC nonprofit running harbor education events including the annual Great New York Harbor Boat Ride — comparable maritime education and waterfront access mission serving NYC public audiences.
• South Street Seaport Museum: NYC-based maritime museum operating historic vessels and providing shipboard education, tours, and community programming — directly comparable as a waterfront-based nonprofit education and heritage organization.
• Hudson River Sloop Clearwater: Environmental education nonprofit operating a sailing sloop in the Hudson Valley with public sails, school programs, and event partnerships — directly comparable mission and operating model, and an active PortSide programming partner.
• Waterfront Museum: Red Hook-based floating museum aboard a 1914 Lehigh Valley Railroad barge offering school programs, tours, and events — closely comparable shipboard education nonprofit model in the same NYC neighborhood.

Others

• Historic Naval Ships Association: Membership organization supporting preservation and interpretation of historic naval vessels across the U.S. — thematically adjacent peer addressing ship preservation, restoration, and interpretation best practices.
• National Maritime Historical Society: National nonprofit advocating for maritime heritage preservation and publishing Sea History magazine — comparable mission around maritime education and historic ship advocacy, but operates at a national rather than local level.

Emerging players

• Save the Sound: Long Island Sound-focused environmental nonprofit with waterfront education, resiliency, and stewardship programs — adjacent mission around urban waterways, climate resiliency, and community waterfront access.
• New York Harbor School: NYC public career and technical education high school focused on marine industry career pathways aboard vessels — comparable maritime CTE and youth workforce development focus, complementary rather than competing.

Broad incumbents

• Mystic Seaport Museum: Larger, established maritime museum with historic vessels, ship restoration yards, and K-PhD educational programming — a broader incumbent in the maritime heritage and education space with overlapping shipboard learning offerings.

Regional players

• Red Hook Initiative: Red Hook-based youth and community services nonprofit — comparable community-anchored nonprofit operating in the same neighborhood with overlapping youth and resiliency programs, though not maritime-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portsideNY
• Facebookfacebook.com/PortSideNY
• Instagraminstagram.com/portsidenewyork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portside-newyork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PortSide NewYork