Read Authentic Ratings for the Douglas-J.

On March 10, 2026, a significant fire broke out on the barge 'American Trader', a 6076 gt vessel (IMO: 8640870), while it was being towed in Delaware Bay. The incident was initially reported by the tug 'Douglas J' around 8:20 a.m., prompting a rapid response from the U.S. Coast Guard and various partner agencies. The barge, which was laden with scrap metal, was relocated approximately two miles from Maurice River Cove, New Jersey, to minimize disruption to the main shipping lane as firefighting efforts commenced. The Coast Guard swiftly established a safety perimeter and released a Broadcast Notice to Mariners, ensuring that vessel traffic in the port complex could continue safely while crews battled the flames. Numerous local fire departments deployed fireboats to aid in extinguishing the fire. Responders from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia, Cape May, and Air Station Atlantic City were also on scene, collaborating in the urgent firefighting efforts. Despite the hours-long firefight, the blaze persisted, sending thick smoke into the air and leaving ship traffic in the vicinity largely unaffected. Fireboats were observed on either side of the stationary barge, using water cannons to douse the burning piles of metal, with no injuries reported. By March 11, firefighting crews continued their efforts to extinguish the blaze, while specialists monitored environmental indicators to assess any potential impact from the combustion of metals on the bay’s ecosystem. Once the fire was under control, the Coast Guard confirmed that the barge was stable and could safely proceed to Camden, New Jersey, for offloading. In the wake of the incident, a marine salvage company hired by the barge's owner was formulating a recovery plan. Meanwhile, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control was actively monitoring air quality in Delaware through a network of land-based air monitors. Although the Delaware State Emergency Management Agency initially indicated it was conducting internal monitoring, it was later highlighted that oversight coordination was primarily managed by neighboring state services alongside the Coast Guard. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Agencies involved in the response include the Wilmington Fire Department, Delaware City Fire Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Delaware Emergency Management, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, Coast Guard Station Cape May, and Coast Guard Station Philadelphia. For more details and visual coverage, please refer to the following links: - [WorkBoat](https://www.workboat.com/delaware-barge-fire-extinguished) - [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/03/10/barge-fire-delaware-bay/4a355568-1ca9-11f1-a29c-fd43da9a479a_story.html) - [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-responding-to-large-barge-fire-in-delaware-bay/) - [CBS News Philadelphia](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/delaware-river-barge-fire-bay-today/) - [Yahoo News](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/massive-fire-erupts-scrap-metal-181456846.html) - [WHYY](https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-bay-scrap-fire-barge-air-quality/) - [UNN](https://unn.ua/en/news/rescue-services-are-extinguishing-a-large-scale-fire-on-a-barge-carrying-scrap-metal-in-delaware-bay) - [6abc](https://6abc.com/post/massive-fire-erupts-scrap-metal-barge-delaware-river/18699391/)

On November 5, 2013, a fuel barge carrying 80,000 barrels of low sulfur diesel fuel ran aground off Fort Point, close to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The incident occurred while the tugboat 'Mediterranean Sea' was attempting to maneuver from the stern. Unfortunately, the barge drifted onto a shoal during this operation. Thankfully, the barge was successfully relocated from the shoal and was subsequently berthed, where it is set to unload its cargo. The following day, November 6, authorities conducted a damage assessment. In compliance with regulations, the captain of the tugboat underwent both drug and alcohol testing; the alcohol test returned negative results, while results for the drug test are still awaited.