A marine engineer was killed in a methane explosion aboard the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sludge boat Hunts Point on Saturday, May 24. The incident took place while the 290'x70' vessel was docked at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility on Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront.
The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m., killing chief marine diesel engineer Raymond Feige, and sending two other DEP employees to the hospital. One of the injured was treated and released, and the condition of the other has not been publicly disclosed.
Hunts Point, used to transport raw sewage, has a maximum sludge capacity of 140,000 cu. ft. When light, the vessel draws as little as 4’3” forward, and 9’ 3” aft. The deep draft is 14.5’ fully loaded.
The vessel was docked near West 135th Street in West Harlem at the time of the incident. FDNY deputy assistant chief David Simms told CBS News that the blast originated in one of the vessel’s holds and was powerful enough to throw Feige into the narrow space between the barge and the pier. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but officials and media reports indicate it may have been the result of a welding operation in a confined space. The New York Post reported that Feige was conducting welding work at the time of the incident. Sources told the outlet that methane from raw sewage may have become trapped in a tightly enclosed area on the vessel and was ignited by the welding torch’s flame, leading to the blast.
The U.S. Coast Guard echoed this in a social media post, stating the explosion was “reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat.”
BREAKING: Coast Guard responding to reported explosion near North River Wastewater Treatment Plant around 10:30 a.m. Incident reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat. CG Station New York on scene assisting FDNY. Investigation pends.
— USCG_Tri_State (@USCG_Tri_State) May 24, 2025
DEP and Coast Guard officials stated there was currently no environmental damage or operational disruption at the facility. The Coast Guard confirmed that no pollution had been reported in the Hudson River and described the situation as “stable.”
The sludge fleet operated by the DEP plays a crucial role in moving biosolids and untreated sewage between processing facilities throughout the city. The Hunts Point is powered by twin IMO Tier 2 turbocharged GE 6L250 marine diesel engines rated at a combined 3,652 hp. The vessel is equipped with a Kongsberg AutoChief C20 propulsion control system with control stations on the bridge, bridge wings, and in the engine room.
The Hunts Point features variable-pitch propellers with a diameter of 6.89’, each spinning at up to 300 rpm. Independent of its rudder steering system are fore and aft SST 502 steerable Schottel pump jet thrusters, rated 503 hp in the bow and 428 hp at the stern.
Sludge vessels like the Hunts Point also use self-cleaning Flygt 3301 NP submersible pumps capable of moving 1,780 gals. per minute at a 150’ total dynamic head.
