Crowley Barge Catches Fire Off Bahamas

Friday, March 7, 2014. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

Update (March 7): A commercial tug arrived on scene at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday to begin extinguishing the fire aboard a 730-foot container barge about 40-miles southeast of Freeport, Bahamas. Another tug is en route to further assist. There continues to be no threat to the general population or the seven crew members aboard the 127-foot tug Patriarch.

The Coast Guard continues monitoring the fire with the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered on scene.

March 6: Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators in Miami are coordinating fire-fighting efforts of an unmanned 730-foot barge with containers on fire about 86-miles northeast of Nassau, Bahamas.

The U.S. Coast Guard says it received a call at about 13:30 p.m. Thursday from the 127-foot tug Patriarch saying that a fire had started from the cargo boxes onboard the barge. The Patriarch is en route to Nassau, Bahamas to be closer to commercial salvage and fire fighting capabilities.

The Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered, a 154-foot fast response cutter, has been diverted to the area to assist with search and rescue efforts if necessary.

An HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, is currently monitoring the vessel and the extent of the fire. The coast guard says there is no threat to the general population or the seven crewmembers aboard the Patriarch at this time.