Staten Island Boat Graveyard

The Staten Island Boat Graveyard is an active ship-dismantling facility along the Arthur Kill in Rossville, where over 100 deteriorating vessels like cargo ships and tugboats rest in shallow waters. Operated today by Donjon Iron and Metal, the site specializes in breaking down and recycling maritime components from decommissioned ships.

John J. Witte established this ship-dismantling operation in the 1930s to break down and recycle components from decommissioned vessels. The facility has continued operating since then and became one of the region's major ship-scrapping centers.

These vessels carry stories tied to maritime history and naval service. The USS PC-1264 represents a milestone as the first Navy ship crewed entirely by African-American sailors, drawing the attention of historians and photographers today.

Access is limited since the site is an active scrapyard primarily used for dismantling operations. For photographs from outside, the nearby shoreline path or viewing areas along the waterway offer glimpses of the vessels without needing to enter the facility.

The graveyard holds the FDNY fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, which served as a command post during the 1904 General Slocum ferry disaster. This vessel is a rare remnant from one of New York's deadliest maritime tragedies.

Location: Staten Island

Address: Arthur Kill Rd, Staten Island, NY, USA

GPS coordinates: 40.55715,-74.21610

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:08