Rescue crews responded to the Delaware River at around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday morning after receiving information from the U.S. Coast Guard about a fire in the engine room of a tugboat pushing two barges.
Initial reports indicated the vessel was drifting between Old New Castle and Delaware City, closer to the New Jersey shoreline, and that one of the barges may have come loose.
Firefighters and marine units from multiple fire companies, including the Wilmington Fire Department’s fireboat and DSP Marine 1, were dispatched to assist. Crews arriving at vantage points along the shore initially saw no visible fire conditions. However, the tugboat captain had reportedly closed the engine room door in an attempt to contain the fire. Reports later suggested that the vessel had lost steering control.
The Coast Guard reported that the crew had abandoned ship and was in a lifeboat awaiting rescue. A nearby tugboat responded to the scene, recovering the stranded crew and attempting to take control of the drifting barges. Trooper 4, the Delaware State Police aviation unit, hovered overhead to provide reconnaissance until a Coast Guard helicopter took over at approximately 10:25 a.m.
Rescue teams noted that paint on the tugboat’s exterior was blistering due to the heat. Responders faced difficulties launching additional boats from the Delaware shore due to low tide. As a result, crews located a viable boat ramp in New Jersey and began deploying resources from that location.
New Castle Command has requested additional fireboats from Kent County to assist in the ongoing firefighting efforts. A fireboat from Philadelphia was also dispatched to provide support.
The captain reported that the tugboat had approximately 7,500 gallons of fuel onboard. As of the latest reports, the vessel remained ablaze while two responding tugs successfully secured the barges. The U.S. Coast Guard reported no injuries in connection with the incident.
This is a developing story.