Trailer Bridge Barge Returns to Jacksonville After Cargo Looting

Barge Looted After Grounding Near the Bahamas

A Trailer Bridge barge returned to Jacksonville on November 21 after nearly all of its containers were looted off the coast of the Bahamas. The looting occurred after a mechanical failure left the vessel stranded on a reef about three miles offshore. Trailer Bridge reported that only 11 of the 192 containers remained sealed.

The incident began on November 11 when the tug Southern Dawn suffered a mechanical failure during severe weather while en route to Puerto Rico. The tow wire snapped, causing the Brooklyn Bridge barge to drift before grounding on the reef. Without power, the barge attracted attention from people in the area.

Authorities Notified of Active Looting

By the evening of November 13, Trailer Bridge alerted the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy that about 50 looters were actively raiding the barge. Bahamian police responded to the scene but did not intervene, citing safety concerns. A maritime attorney stated that 181 containers were broken into during the incident.

Trailer Bridge confirmed that most containers were pried open, many with bolt cutters, and stripped of valuables. Items that were too large to remove were tossed into the ocean. Cleanup crews later recovered debris, appliances, and packaging scattered across the reef.

Significant Cargo Loss Reported

The containers held personal belongings, food, appliances, and commercial freight. The loss affected shipments intended for Puerto Rico. Trailer Bridge stated that crews began a container-by-container inventory at JAXPORT with insurance carriers to identify missing cargo.

The company is funding cleanup efforts on the reef in the Bahamas and expects the work to be completed within a week. Trailer Bridge thanked U.S. officials for their support in returning the barge and said its priorities are personnel safety and accurate cargo accounting.