NA24NOSX999C0013-T1-01 increasing resilience through large debris removal within the providence working waterfront: removing a sunken barge and crane from providence river to increase waterfront and…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program awarded a $1,566,623 Cooperative Agreement to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to remove a derelict, sunken crane-topped barge from the Providence River in Rhode Island. The project aims to increase resilience and waterfront/waterway access within the Providence working waterfront. Key activities include engaging a specialized contractor to remove the approximately 150-200 ton barge, forming an inter-agency advisory committee to oversee the project and provide guidance, and funding the local nonprofit Steel Yard to engage the community and create public art/amenities from the repurposed materials. This project complements an ongoing public street access initiative and will leverage existing community engagement processes to ensure neighboring communities are involved. The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2026.

NA24NOSX999C0013-T1-01 increasing resilience through large debris removal within the providence working waterfront: removing a sunken barge and crane from providence river to increase waterfront and waterway access the rhode island department of environmental management (RIDEM) will remove a derelict, sunken crane-topped barge from the port of providence, an active working waterfront within the providence river in rhode island. The steel-hulled crane-topped barge is approximately 114 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. Based on the approximate dimensions IT is estimated that the barge weighs approximately 150 to 200 tons. Sunken barge and crane removal will require the engagement of a specialized contractor which will be identified through a request for proposal competitive funding opportunity. Project activities also include engagement with partner agencies and local communities via public meetings and the creation of an inter-agency advisory committee to ensure maximum public benefit. RIDEM will coordinate an inter-organizational advisory committee consisting of state agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to oversee the project, provide guidance on removal methods, and create enduring capacity for future prevention and removal activities. RIDEM will also fund the steel yard, a local nonprofit industrial art center, to engage local high school students and other nearby community groups and create public art and amenities using repurposed project materials that are informed by community input. This project complements the ongoing public street access project that is located directly adjacent to the sunken barge. Revitalization efforts at the public street access site will occur over the same project timeframe; therefore, RIDEM will leverage already existing, robust community engagement processes led by the city of providence and save the BAY to ensure that neighboring communities are directly involved in this project at every stage. Save the BAY will conduct a volunteer cleanup at the end of the removal to clean the public street access site.