One worker died and 34 New York City firefighters were injured in a fire and explosions at a Staten Island shipyard, city officials said May 22.
More than 70 fire and EMS units responded to the fire at 3:30 p.m. at the May Ship Repair Contracting Corp., New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at an evening press conference. The rescuers found two workers trapped in a small metal structure in the yard amid heavy smoke conditions, and one later died.
FDNY officials said firefighters found the fire burning in the basement of a large metal structure at the dock, and were fighting the fire when a major explosion about 50 minutes later, followed by a second blast.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said the fire crews dealt with limited visibility and heavy smoke and they were told two workers were trapped in the basement.
Amid the fire and explosions, first responders searched on and around a barge at the yard in the Mariners Harbor section, and 34 members of the Fire Department of New York were reported with minor injuries, including firefighters and EMS technicians. Two at Staten Island University Hospital included a fire marshal in critical condition, said FDNY Chief John Esposito.
“Confined spaces are very dangerous operations for any rescuers,” Esposito said. At an evening press conference Bonsignore remarked that despite the injuries “we got lucky this day.”
The May Ship facility is located in the Richmond Industrial Complex. The company’s profile on LinkedIn described itself as a shipbuilding “and drydocking facility providing quality designs, new construction, and a wide array of vessel repairs. May Ship Repair is a major contributor to New York Metro's bustling maritime industry…Located in New York's Tug Boat Alley, May Ship Repair is also a major service provider to New York Metro's working tug fleet.”
