The Coast Guard and local partner set up a unified command Feb. 10 in response to a 265’ fuel barge grounded outside San Juan Harbor.
The Coast Guard, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the barge's owner coordinated the effort, after the barge grounded around noon Feb. 9. There were no reports of crew injuries or pollution and a 200-yard safety zone was set around the vessel.
The barge Defiant was being towed inbound to San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, just before the incident occurred, near the landmark San Felipe del Morro Castle. Coast Guard said the cause of the grounding is under investigation.
San Juan port operations remained unaffected. The barge currently holds approximately 1,000 gallons of residual fuel, which responders are closely monitoring to prevent any environmental impact, according to the Coast Guard.
The barge’s owner is working with the Coast Guard to develop a salvage plan.
“Weather is playing a significant role in this response,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Coast Guard incident commander. “The Unified Command and barge owner are working diligently to safely remove the threat to the environment. We ask the public to steer clear of the area so response crews can work uninterrupted.”
