Raymond Feige Obituary, Death; – The city worker who tragically lost his life in an unexpected raw sewage boat explosion on the Hudson River has been recognized as a “cherished” veteran engineer from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Raymond Feige, aged 59, perished when the sludge vessel detonated at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility, located near 135th Street in Upper Manhattan, on Saturday morning.
The explosion propelled Feige, a chief marine diesel engineer, into the water, trapping him between the boat and the pier, according to authorities.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and investigators are actively pursuing the case.
“Ray was a highly regarded engineer and a dependable, cherished colleague who will be profoundly missed,” stated DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.
“For over thirty years, he served at DEP in a role that is largely unnoticed by most New Yorkers but is essential for the city’s operations, and we are thankful for his service. We ask that you keep Ray’s family and colleagues in your thoughts during this challenging time.”
Feige dedicated his entire career at DEP to the marine section, as department officials noted, describing it as “his home away from home.”
“His connection with his shipmates and passion for working on the water kept him devoted to the fleet for more than thirty years,” a spokesperson for DEP remarked. In the meantime, two other DEP employees who were aboard the vessel with Feige were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention following Saturday’s explosion, authorities reported.
Their identities and conditions have not been disclosed immediately. The boat, which was docked when the explosion tore through its hull, was transporting raw sewage from the city to a treatment facility at the time of the incident.
The US Coast Guard has indicated that there have been no reports of pollution entering the river following the explosion.
