CSNY has a Study Tour of the Black River Canal coming soon . . . in about a month, and as soon as all the details are available, they’ll be published here, and elsewhere. 

Note the yellow on green “flag” flying from the jackstaff . . . on the bow of Venera. 

Venera appears in Merchant Vessels of the US records from launch in 1955 until at least 1965.  Venera was built at a shipyard in 1955 in Erie PA, although I don’t know which shipyard.  She was 51′ x 15,’ 140 horsepower.  The CSNY archives have lots of photos of undated study tour/expeditions taken aboard when her homeport was Canastota.  Given that, I’m guessing these photos date from the late 1950s.

Plucky captain or not, 

the challenges of the NYS Canals have always included bridges.

But again, note the flag, a welcome flag this time.  Is it time for a new banner of some sort?

CSNY study tours of that era involved some intermodal transport, which will be a feature of the upcoming tour as well. 

Anyone identify the date, the captain, others in the photos, the disposition of Venera, anything else . . . please add to the comments.