October 2, 2025
The Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, a five-story jail barge moored off Hunts Point in the Bronx, will soon be dismantled and recycled.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced that Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling has been selected to remove the vessel this fall. The company will tow the barge from New York Harbor to its facility in Gibson, La., where it will be taken apart. The recovered steel and other metals will be resold to U.S. steel mills and foundries for use in future projects, NYCEDC said..
The NYCEDC press release highlighted that the city will receive $1.5 million for the barge, in addition to the value of having the barge removed and transported. The Vernon C. Bain, known locally as “The Barge,” was built at Avondale Shipyards, Westwego, La., and operated as a floating jail until it was decommissioned in 2023.
“This is a meaningful project for our team,” said Matt Rongey, COO of Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling. “The Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center was originally built in Louisiana, and now we are entrusted with its safe removal and recycling. Its metals will be repurposed into new U.S.-built projects, supporting sustainability and creating long-term value.”
The removal of the correctional barge is part of New York City’s plan to redevelop the site into the Hunts Point Marine Terminal, a facility designed to shift cargo handling from trucks to barges and ferries.
Before development can begin, the waterfront property will undergo a two-year remediation process to address historic pollution left by Con Edison manufactured gas operations, the city said. The city has committed $28.3 million in shoreline repairs at the VCBC site and the nearby South Bronx Marine Transfer Terminal.
City officials and community leaders called the removal of the barge a turning point for Hunts Point. “From clearing out an old prison barge to creating a new marine terminal, our administration is turning the page on Hunts Point and creating a cleaner, brighter future for the Bronx,” said N.Y. City Mayor Eric Adams.
WorkBoat reached out to both NYCEDC and Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling for more information on the barge’s transport.