Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Southern-Dawn

On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard made a surprising discovery of eight stowaways aboard a barge in the bustling harbor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. This operation was initiated after the Sector San Juan received an alert from the Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations Centre, which had detected potential stowaways linked to the barge connected to the tug 'Southern Dawn'. The 'Southern Dawn' embarked from Jacksonville, Florida, on May 16, maintaining a consistent speed of 7-8 knots en route to Puerto Rico, without making any foreign port calls or unplanned stops. Despite the tug's purely domestic journey, the migrants managed to clandestinely board the towed barge prior to its arrival in San Juan. The Coast Guard apprehended four Chinese nationals and four individuals from the Dominican Republic. They were swiftly transferred to CBP for processing at the Puerto Nuevo Terminals in San Juan's harbor. Investigators are still determining whether the stowaways boarded in Jacksonville or at sea, along with the motivations behind their attempt to reach Puerto Rico instead of Florida. Following the incident, the tug has returned to its origin in Jacksonville. For more details and photos, you can visit the official US Coast Guard press release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4502822/coast-guard-homeland-security-task-force-san-juan-region-partner-agencies-appre/

On December 28, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard Station San Juan conducted a daring rescue in San Juan Harbor, saving two migrants who jumped overboard from the barge 'Charlotte Bridge' to escape law enforcement. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. while the barge was being towed by the vessel 'Southern Dawn' into the harbor. Crew members aboard the tug suspected that unauthorized individuals might be hidden on the barge. In light of the situation, the San Juan Coast Guard swiftly launched a small boat to assist in the rescue operation. The Coast Guard successfully retrieved both men from the water and transported them safely to shore, where Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officials took them into custody. Following the rescue, the Coast Guard safely guided the tug and barge to their designated berth. Upon arrival, a security boarding procedure was executed by a combined team from Sector San Juan, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Puerto Rico Police Department to ensure that no additional unauthorized persons were aboard the barge. For further details and a photo of the rescue, visit the official U.S. Coast Guard news release.

On November 15, the barge 'Brooklyn Bridge' was successfully refloated near Abaco, Bahamas, approximately three miles from the shoreline. The incident occurred on November 11, when the vessel broke free from the 'Southern Dawn' while en route from Florida to Puerto Rico. A subsequent dive survey confirmed that the barge did not sustain any hull damage, and there were no reports of pollution. Following the grounding, approximately 50 individuals boarded the stranded vessel and removed cargo, prompting intervention requests from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Bahamian authorities. Despite the deployment of Bahamian police, direct intervention was avoided due to concerns of escalating tensions. Various small craft were spotted approaching the barge, with individuals loading boxed goods and other items, while others climbed aboard via the barge’s pigeonholes. By November 16, the barge was cleared to resume its journey back to Jacksonville after a second dive inspection and necessary regulatory approvals. Plans are in place for a follow-up team to clear any debris left on the seafloor around the grounding site. The cargo on the 'Brooklyn Bridge' encompassed food, electronics, medical equipment, and household goods intended for Puerto Rico. Notably, Trailer Bridge is among three Jones Act carriers running weekly services to the island, operating two roll-on/roll-off vessels along with two load-on/load-off barges between Jacksonville and San Juan. For a detailed report with photos, visit: https://www.workboat.com/trailer-bridge-barge-refloated-after-grounding-looting-incident-in-the-bahamas.

On November 11, 2025, the tug 'Southern Dawn' faced a significant mechanical failure while navigating towards Puerto Rico, caught in harsh winds that caused a tow wire to break. This mishap left the barge 'Brooklyn Bridge' (IMO: 8639077) stranded off the coast of the Bahamas, precisely at position 26° 59' N 077° 15' W. Just two days later, on November 13, the situation escalated when approximately 50 looters targeted the grounded barge, which was stationed about three miles offshore. The shipping company, Trailer Bridge, immediately sought assistance from U.S. and Bahamian authorities to address the unlawful activity. Reports indicate that a large group of thieves boarded the barge and began stealing its cargo. In response, the company alerted the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. Despite the presence of Bahamian police units at the scene, they opted against direct intervention due to concerns over potential violence. The well-being of the personnel aboard the barge remained the company's utmost priority as they coordinated with authorities. Trailer Bridge, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, is known for its operation of two roll-on/roll-off vessels and two load-on/load-off vessels between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The company has promised to provide further updates once the situation is stabilized and the barge secured.