Albany, N.Y., Port to Offer More Containers to Boost Use of Barge Service.

Byline: Brian Nearing

Apr. 30--The Port of Albany is adding more empty shipping containers in hopes of encouraging upstate businesses to use its fledgling barge container service.

The service, which started last year with a barge a week bringing containers up the Hudson River from the Port of New York and New Jersey, has been growing, although slowly.

Most cargo has been incoming and Albany officials hope to boost exports by having empty containers always ready to be sent to a customer and filled for shipment, Port Commission Chairman Robert Cross said.

The concept is like keeping a row of taxicabs in front of a hotel at all times, ready …