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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is removing a derelict, sunken crane-topped barge from the Port of Providence, an active working waterfront within the Providence River in Rhode Island.
Type of Project: Removal
Funding Provided: $1,500,512
Total Project Amount: $1,566,623
Region: Northeast
Project Dates: October 2024 - December 2026
Who is involved?
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is removing a 114 foot-long abandoned Navy barge from the Port of Providence, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is partnering with The Steel Yard to engage community groups and local high school students to transform materials recovered from the barge into community-informed art and amenities for a public waterfront access point. The Department will also partner with Save the Bay to host marine debris cleanups after the barge is removed.
What is the project and why is it important?
The Providence River flows into Narragansett Bay, the largest estuary in New England, which supports over 60 species of fish and shellfish and more than 200 bird species. The connected waterways provide countless recreational, ecological, and economic opportunities to millions of state residents and visitors. In October 2017, a steel-hulled barge with a mounted crane sank approximately 500 feet offshore from the Port of Providence, a working waterfront in the Providence River, Rhode Island. More than just an eyesore in Rhode Island’s leading port, the derelict vessel also presents a navigational hazard, ecological concerns, and limitations to recreational and economic activities for nearby residents in disadvantaged communities. The longer it sits and rusts, the more likely it is that pieces will break off and fragment, littering the surrounding area and shoreline.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is removing the barge and ensuring that materials are appropriately reused, recycled, and disposed of. The Steel Yard, in collaboration with local students and the community, is using materials salvaged from the vessel to fabricate upcycled signage, artwork, and other features for a nearby public park, while providing job training opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and refugees. This effort complements the City of Providence’s ongoing Public Street Waterfront Access Project, which is located directly adjacent to the sunken barge.
An advisory committee consisting of state agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations will represent community needs, concerns, and goals throughout the project. This project is removing up to 400,000 pounds of large marine debris from the environment while engaging the community and ensuring a safe, beautiful waterfront is accessible to all.
For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.