HUNTS POINT
Latest ports
Latest Waypoints
Latest news
NTSB Report: Use of a propane torch on deck triggered fatal explosion on tanker
The unapproved use of a propane torch on deck triggered an explosion aboard the 'Hunts Point' on May 26, 2025, according to a report issued on July 25, 2026, by the National Transportation Safety Board. The blast killed the vessel’s chief engineer Raymond Feige, 59, a 34-year veteran employee of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, and injured two other crew members. Feige had served aboard the Hunts Point since the vessel was launched in 2014, The explosion occurred when the tanker was docked at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in Manhattan at around West 138th Street on the Hudson River shoreline, in pos. 40°49.39' N 073°57.53' W. Feige was seen using a torch in an attempt to remove broken bolts from a hatch cover shortly before the blast which blew him off the tanker. He was found between the concrete dock and a wooden fender alongside the vessel and declared dead at the scene by fire department paramedics. An assistant engineer was found on deck, injured and covered in sludge, but conscious. The NTSB concluded that the torch had likely ignited flammable methane gas in the hold, triggering the explosion. The tanker’s hatches were being opened that day so that water from a dockside hydrant could be added to the tanks in order to loosen sludge that had become too viscous to pump out after sitting overnight. This procedure, known as “innage reduction” was not done often and the report indicated it was last performed on the 'Hunts Point' five years earlier. In the interim, removable plugs in the hatch covers had rusted shut, necessitating the removal of flanges from the hatch cover securing the plugs. During this process, a number of rusted bolts sheared off. The chief engineer and an assistant engineer were attempting to remove these broken bolts when the blast occurred. NYC DEP procedures prohibited sources of flame on the decks of the tankers and called for a permit to be completed prior to beginning any hot work on a DEP vessel, and none was completed in this case. Moreover, the report indicated the vessel’s master told investigators he had specifically instructed the chief engineer not to use a torch near the tanks and had also warned the assistant engineer to remind the chief. Despite these warnings, the chief engineer used a torch to heat a broken bolt by an unprotected opening to a tank containing flammable gas. He had other tools available that could have removed the broken bolts without the risk of igniting the flammable gas. Had he used any of these tools, the casualty could have been prevented. In the aftermath of the accident, the DEP issued two memos directing personnel to review procedures for hot work and hazards associated with sludge. The damage to the 'Hunts Point' was estimated at $10 million. The vessel has not returned to service since the accident and last transmitted an AIS signal from the Caddell Shipyard on Staten Island. https://gcaptain.com/ntsb-blames-unapproved-hot-work-for-deadly-nyc-sludge-tanker-explosion/
Victim of explosion was veteran engineer
The victim of the explosion on the 'Hunt'S Point' has been identified as the veteran city engineer Raymond Feige, 59. He was a chief marine diesel engineer who worked at New Yorks Department of Environmental Protection for 33 years. He was killed in a methane explosion aboard the Department of Environmental Protection ship, while it was docked at the agency's wastewater facility on the Hudson River. The blast sent him tumbling off the ship on May 24 at around 10:30 a.m. The diesel engineer was pronounced dead at the scene after being found unconscious in the river. Another DEP employee was taken to the hospital, and a third at the scene refused medical treatment.The ship was carrying raw sewage at the time of the explosion, the cause of which was still under investigation. There has been no impact on plant operations or the environment. Report with photo: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-sewage-boat-explosion-victim-identified-veteran-city-engineer-rcna209087
Explosion in New York kills one, injures two
An explosion occurred the morning of May 24, 2025, on the 'Hunt's Point' in West Harlem in New York City, killing a 59-year-old man and injuring two others. The incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. in front of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on West 138th Street on the Hudson River near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant.The vessel, which was docked at the pier at the time of the incident, was used to transport raw wastewater to various treatment plants. The deceased was thrown into the water by the explosion and was trapped between the vessel's hull and the pier structure. It was unclear whether the victim was a DEP employee or an outside contractor. The other two victims were on deck or inside the vessel when the explosion occurred. They were rescued by the New York Fire Department (FDNY) emergency services and taken to local hospitals. The scene was quickly secured by rescue teams, boats, and helicopters. Police and firefighters continued to investigate the cause of the accident. The situation was stable. The FDNY lead the response. Coast Guard crews remained on scene supporting the response. Reports with photos and video: https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/05/24/mundo/un-muerto-y-dos-heridos-por-explosion-de-barco-en-rio-hudson-de-ny https://www.infobae.com/estados-unidos/2025/05/24/un-muerto-y-dos-heridos-tras-la-explosion-de-un-barco-del-departamento-de-proteccion-ambiental-en-el-rio-hudson/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVVaLZPXsZA https://elheraldoslp.com.mx/new/2025/05/24/un-muerto-y-dos-heridos-tras-la-explosion-de-un-barco-del-departamento-de-proteccion-ambiental/
Upload News