Nice photo - "full of busy" - incidentally Hoboken, New Jersey, was the birth place of a certain Mr Francis Albert Sinatra.

415 Monroe street (Building razed 67, not worth a pilgrimage), Dec. 12, 1915. That was one year after this pic was taken. Regards, Stein.

Ship ahead resembles Holland-Amerika Lijn NOORDERDYK (1913-1917) still without neutrality marks ( introduced in 1915).

CVB

What is that "thing" at the extreme left with the tall "funnel", two lifebuoys, a lifeboat and a vent on top of the "superstructure"?
Is the tug pushing it into position?

Hi Kris. A steam driven grain conveyor? The tower at extreme left would indicate something like that. I think the tug is pushing a barge outside it. Regards, Stein.

It could be, Stein.
It appears to be named something like "Ceres" and registered in Jersey City NJ. There is what appears to be a suction pipe leading into the midships hold of the Vaterland. It could also be a bunkering barge loading coal. The main cargo seems to be barrels of something as seen on the dock.
The "barge" tied up astern of it has "Customs House" on a board at the back and a word ending in "Vanna" on a side window.
The tug is the Herbert E. Keller of the Hudson Towboat Company. Considering egotistical figureheads there is an eagle with wings spread attached to the tug's monkey island forrard. Love those tugs, always remind of Barbra Streisand singing.
Don't be suprised, I downloaded the high resolution version to look more closely.
Cheers - Kris