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**Title: Blaze Erupts on Towed Barge 'American Trader' in Delaware Bay** On March 10, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard, along with various partner agencies, was called into action following a significant fire on the barge 'American Trader', measuring 6076 gross tons (IMO: 8640870), while it was being towed in Delaware Bay. The alarm was raised at approximately 8:20 a.m. when the tugboat 'Douglas J' reported the fire incident. In response to the situation, the barge, carrying a load of scrap metal, was strategically pulled to a location approximately two miles offshore from Maurice River Cove in New Jersey. This maneuver aimed to minimize disruption to the primary shipping route and facilitate firefighting operations. The Coast Guard promptly established a safety zone around the area and issued a Broadcast Notice to Mariners, ensuring that vessel traffic would be cautious as crews worked tirelessly to control the blaze. To support suppression efforts, multiple fire departments dispatched fireboats to the scene. Responders from Coast Guard Station Philadelphia, Cape May, and Air Station Atlantic City also joined the operation. Despite the ongoing fire, which continued for several hours, normal shipping traffic in the vicinity remained largely unaffected. As responders battled the flames, crews deployed water cannons from boats on both sides of the immobilized barge, combatting the thick smoke billowing from several areas of the vessel. Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident. By March 11, fire crews were still engaged in extinguishing the fire, while specialists were monitoring environmental indicators to evaluate the effects of the burning materials on the bay’s ecosystem. Once the fire was under control, the U.S. Coast Guard assessed the stability of the 'American Trader', ensuring it could safely proceed to Camden, New Jersey, for the unloading of its cargo. A marine salvage company, contracted by the barge's owner, is working on a salvage plan for the situation. Throughout the incident, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control monitored the air quality in the region using land-based air monitoring systems. Initially, the Delaware State Emergency Management Agency indicated it would conduct internal monitoring; however, it was later clarified that environmental oversight was primarily coordinated by neighboring state services in collaboration with the Coast Guard. The investigation into the cause of the fire is currently ongoing. Responding agencies included the Wilmington and Delaware City Fire Departments, Philadelphia Fire Department, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Delaware Emergency Management, as well as multiple Coast Guard units. For more visuals and updates, check out the following sources: - [WorkBoat: Delaware Barge Fire](https://www.workboat.com/delaware-barge-fire-extinguished) - [Washington Post Coverage](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/03/10/barge-fire-delaware-bay/4a355568-1ca9-11f1-a29c-fd43da9a479a_story.html) - [gCaptain Article](https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-responding-to-large-barge-fire-in-delaware-bay/) - [CBS News Report](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/delaware-river-barge-fire-bay-today/) - [Yahoo News Report](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/massive-fire-erupts-scrap-metal-181456846.html) - [WHYY Coverage](https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-bay-scrap-fire-barge-air-quality/) - [6abc Reporting](https://6abc.com/post/massive-fire-erupts-scrap-metal-barge-delaware-river/18699391/)

On Nov 5, 2013, a barge loaded with 80,000 barrels of low sulfur diesel fuel went aground off Fort Point near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The "Mediterranean Sea" was maneuvering to start pushing from the stern,when the barge drifted onto a shoal. The barge was able to be moved off the shoal and berthed where it is expected to offload its cargo. Authorities assessed the damage on Nov 6. The captain of the tug was given drug and alcohol tests as required. The alcohol test was negative and the drug test results were pending.