One person has died and another is missing after a skiff carrying crew members from an American tug capsized in Port Allen Route near Belle River, Louisiana on Monday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 9:50 p.m., Monday, that a 14-foot skiff carrying four crew members from the ITV Melvin L. King struck a towing vessel and all four people entered the water at mile marker 41.
Two people were rescued on the bank of Port Allen Route. One body was recovered by the Iberville Sherriff Office. One crewmember is still missing.
The Port Allen Route is closed from mile marker 41 to mile Marker 55.
Salvage crews have removed roughly 1,000 gallons of residual fuel from the grounded barge Defiant near the entrance to San Juan Harbor, significantly reducing environmental risk as officials prepare a plan to refloat the 265-foot vessel. The port remains open, and no pollution or injuries have been reported.
A fuel barge ran aground near the entrance to San Juan Harbor on Monday while being towed inbound from St. Thomas, prompting a Coast Guard response near Old San Juan’s historic El Morro fortress. Officials say there were no injuries, no pollution reported, and the port remains open to vessel traffic.
Coast Guard and CBP arrested a stowaway smuggler and seized 789 pounds of cocaine worth over $5 million after a crew aboard the tug Signet Thunder discovered the suspect on a barge in San Juan Harbor during a predawn operation January 28.
February 9, 2026
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