According to multiple foreign media reports, recently, a container barge was robbed during its grounding.

Jacksonville-based transportation services provider Trailer Bridge reported that on the evening of November 13th, its "Brooklyn Bridge" barge ran aground three miles off the Bahamian coast, and a large-scale robbery occurred on board the ship, with about 50 people looting the cargo on the ship.

company contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy to report the ongoing theft. The Bahamian police sent a unit to respond but did not directly, citing concerns about escalating the situation.

"This is a rapidly evolving situation, and according to our last report, our barge is being robbed," said Mitchciano, CEO of Trailer Bridge. "Our top priority is the safety of the crew. We have notified the local Bahamian police as well as the U.S Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. To reiterate, the situation is rapidly evolving, and our top priority is the safety of the crew and the cargo. Once thearge is secured, we will provide further updates."

Social media videos cited by local media show several small boats alongside the barge, which was loaded with boxes and other, with some people climbing onto the deck of the barge to obtain cargo.

The incident originated from a mechanical failure on November 11th, when the "S Dawn" tugboat encountered strong winds while en route to Puerto Rico, and the harsh weather conditions caused the towline to fail, grounding the Brooklyn Bridge on the Baham coast. The robbery occurred while the barge was waiting for rescue to restore its route.

According to the Port Department of the Bahamas Ministry of Energy and Transport, thearge ran aground on a reef in Abaco. Officials confirmed that they are in direct communication with the owners of the vessel and that divers have assessed the situation. An attempt to the barge off the reef is underway.

The Port Department stated that no environmental impact is currently expected, but an environmental assessment will be conducted once the site is cleared to any potential issues.

Salvage crews refloated the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, November 15th. According to a second dive inspection and navigation permit on November16th, the tugboat is returning to Jacksonville. Trailer Bridge stated that a follow-up team will clear any debris from the seabed around the grounding site

The cargo on the Brooklyn Bridge included food, electronics, medical equipment, and other household goods, with a destination of Puerto Rico.

Trailer Bridge is one of Jones Act operators that provide weekly service to the island. The shipping service connects to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region and offers third-party logistics solutions in North America, including trucking intermodal, freight forwarding, and project cargo transportation services. The company owns a fleet of vessels, including two roll-on/roll-off ships and two barges, operating Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico.