Fuel barge runs aground after losing propulsion in rough seas

A barge out of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands that ran aground Monday near Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan was reported to be empty.

By THE STAR STAFF

A fuel barge traveling near Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan ran aground Monday afternoon after a line broke and the vessel lost propulsion amid strong waves, authorities confirmed.

According to information provided to Telenoticias, the barge became stranded when it lost maneuvering capability, allowing rough surf to push it toward the coastline.

The vessel had been en route from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and officials said no spills had been reported as of midafternoon. The president of the company that owns the barge, Harbor Bunkering, said the vessel was empty at the time of the accident. 

Units from the U.S. Coast Guard were dispatched to the area to assess the situation and evaluate the barge’s condition, and authorities continued to monitor the coastline as a precautionary measure.

Word that the barge was empty came as welcome news given that Puerto Rico has dealt with significant barge groundings in the past, the most notable being the Morris J. Berman oil spill on Jan. 7, 1994. In that incident, the 302‑foot barge broke free from its tow line and drifted aground on a coral reef off Punta Escambrón, near San Juan. The grounding ruptured several holding tanks and released some 750,000–800,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil, creating one of the most damaging environmental disasters in the island’s history. 

The spill contaminated more than 100 miles of shoreline, affecting beaches, reefs, seagrass beds, and historic areas, including sections near Old San Juan. Severe surf worsened the damage as the stranded barge was repeatedly struck by waves. Cleanup and restoration efforts extended for years, and the case resulted in major fines and long-term environmental recovery projects overseen by federal and local agencies.