The Army was responsible for the majority of explosives shipping with its own requirements , including the new requirement for large bombs for its air forces and lend-lease shipments to both Britain and the Soviet Union . Early in the war New York had been a focal point and in light of previous disasters , including the Black Tom disaster in Jersey City during the previous war there was considerable concern to minimize multiple steps in handling such cargo . When the Navy acquired the terminal at Bayonne the Army was forced to develop an explosives terminal closer to Manhattan than it desired at Caven Point with work on a six pier facility begun August 1941 and completion in June 1942 . Despite intense safety efforts and concerns there was an incident at Caven Point in which the ship caught fire and had to be scuttled in the harbor . To lessen munitions concentration in NYPOE expansion of the Philadelphia munitions capability and dispersal of such facilities for all ports was sought
Black Tom disaster
Black Tom explosion
New York Port of Embarkation