‘Violent’ boat explosion in Greenport injures two

Two people were injured when a boat exploded at 3:52 Tuesday afternoon at a fueling dock at Safe Harbor’s Greenport Marina, sending two people into the water, according to a Southold Police release.

Two people on the boat, identified as William Gremler, 61, of Mattituck, and Lisa Schoenstein, 43, of Southold, were injured in a “violent” explosion and were airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center, the release said.

“First responding officers observed Gremler and Schoenstein in the water at the location, as they were thrown from the boat during the violent explosion,” police said. “Schoenstein was able to swim to the nearby dock and exit the water by ladder. However, Gremler was assisted into a dinghy by a Good Samaritan and brought to the dock.”

The release did not describe either Ms. Schoenstein or Mr. Gremler’s injuries.

A preliminary investigation by Southold police “revealed the explosion occured shortly after Gremler finished fueling his 29-foot Luhrs and started the boat’s engines. [They] were airlifted via Suffolk County Police Department helicopter with undisclosed injuries.”

Fire departments from Greenport, East Marion and Southold responded. With the water around the dock filled with fuel, Douglas Marine “responded for fuel spill mitigation until the arrival of Miller Environmental for cleanup.”

The Coast Guard also dispatched a special response team.

The severely damaged boat will be salvaged by Douglas Marine, police said.