U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews rescued four people from the 70-foot tugboat SEA EAGLE and the flat top barge she was towing after they ran aground on beach near Boca Raton, Florida, on Thursday 3rd February.
SEA EAGLE’s crew sent out a mayday call on Thursday around 2045 hrs reporting they were in distress and taking on water with four people aboard.
CBP rescue crews arrived on scene and rescued three people from the attached barge. Station Fort Lauderdale’s crew rescued the SEA EAGLE ’s captain, who stayed behind with the tug. SEA EAGLE crew were reunited on Station Fort Lauderdale’s vessel and were brought shore. There were no reported injuries.
The tug is reported to have approximately 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board.
WPB 87322 KINGFISHER back to 20th April, 2009
The tug and barge are chartered by the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command and were on a scheduled routine supply mission to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas, carrying a cargo of ordnance, fuel and other supplies. The vessels are operated by NOSAT, Northcliffe Ocean Shipping & Trading, which is currently working with a salvage company to safely remove them and tow them to a nearby port.
The Coast Guard said there is no danger to people living nearby the stranded barge and the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit will safely clear the barge of any potential munitions or ordnance on board.
Timeline image credit to USCG Southeast.
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Published – Saturday 5th February ,2022.