A Trailer Bridge container barge was looted off the Bahamas after a tow line failure left the vessel stranded for two days.
The situation began on November 11 when the tug towing the Brooklyn Bridge barge to Puerto Rico encountered severe winds that caused the tow line to break. The barge subsequently ran aground off Abaco, according to the Bahamian Port Department.
The barge was sitting about three miles off the Bahamian coast when an estimated 50 people from nearby communities boarded the vessel on November 13 and began stealing cargo.
Social media footage showed multiple small craft alongside the barge, many filled with appliances and boxed goods, with some people climbing to access the main deck.
Trailer Bridge immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy. The Bahamian police dispatched a response unit but declined to intervene directly, citing concerns over potential violence.
A dive inspection commissioned by the operator confirmed that the barge’s hull sustained no damage and no pollution occurred. Recovery operations successfully refloated Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, and the vessel began its return voyage to Jacksonville on Sunday.
A follow-up salvage team will remove debris from the grounding site, while the Bahamian government will conduct an assessment to determine any environmental penalties.
