Recently, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling will be in charge of removing the former Hunts Point floating jail. The announcement goes hand-in-hand with Mayor Eric Adams’ pledge to remove a correctional facility considered a stigma to the community.
The end of a “Symbol of Failure”.
The Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, also known as “The Boat,” was a five-story, 800-bed floating prison that operated from 1992 until its decommissioning in 2023. It was originally built to relieve overcrowding in the city’s prisons, but over the years became a “symbol of everything bad that is built and located in the Bronx,” as Mayor Adams described it.
In addition, in its later years, the facility was criticized for its conditions, including small and rusty dormitories, and for tragic incidents that occurred inside.
What is the role of Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling?
Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling, was selected for this project because of its specialized equipment and expertise in marine dismantling. The company will tow the floating prison from the Bronx to its facility in Gibson, Louisiana, where it will be disassembled, selling the recovered metal to steel mills and foundries for reuse.
In return, the City of New York will receive $1.5 million for the barge, plus the value of its removal and transportation. The removal of the Vermon C. Brain barge will allow for the initiation of a two-year remediation process that will pave the way for the development of the future Hunts Point Marine Terminal.
Community perspectives
The announcement was positively received by local leaders, who see it as an opportunity to right historic wrongs and bet on a more prosperous and cleaner future for the South Bronx. In addition, the Hunts Point Marine Terminal development process will involve the cleanup of land contaminated by waste, create approximately 500 jobs, and reduce truck traffic throughout the city through the use of cargo barges.
Source: NYCEDC.
