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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Due to towline failure, in a dramatic scene at Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a fuel barge has gone hard aground at the entrance to San Juan Harbour. The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of Monday, February 9, 2026, has triggered an immediate response from U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector San Juan and local partner agencies.
No injuries or missing crew members have been reported, and there are no indications of pollution coming from the barge at this time. Coast Guard marine units on scene continue to monitor the situation,’ the Coast Guard said in a written statement.
The vessel is the Defiant, a 265‑foot barge that was being towed toward the Port of San Juan from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, just before the grounding. The cause of the grounding is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard is deploying its services and the Emergency Response Team to handle the response. ‘We urge the public to stay away from the area to allow response agencies to access and work at the site,’ the federal agency said.
General Particulars: Tank Barge Defiant
| Specification | Detail |
| Vessel Name | Defiant |
| Official Number | 1231824 |
| Owner/Operator | Harbor Bunkering Corporation |
| Home Port | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Year Built | 2011 |
| Builder | Sterling Shipyard (Port Neches, TX) |
| Designer | Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. |
| Flag | USA |
| Classification | ABS ✠ A1, Oil Tank Barge, UWILD |
Incident Overview
According to sources cited by NotiCentro, the barge lost control after one of its mooring lines came loose, leaving it adrift inside the navigation channel and causing it to come into contact with the structure of Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Preliminary information obtained by NotiCentro indicates that the vessel was not under the direction of a San Juan Bay Pilot, in violation of operational instructions and the mandatory pilotage requirements applicable to this type of manoeuvre within the port
| Detail | Status/Information |
| Date of Incident | February 9, 2026 |
| Location | San Juan Harbor Entrance (below El Morro) |
| Towing Vessel | Tug Storm (Flag: St. Vincent) |
| Reported Injuries | None |
| Pollution Detected | None (as of latest report) |
| Harbor Status | Open to Marine Traffic |
Response and Safety Measures
Coast Guard Sector San Juan has established a safety zone around the grounded vessel to ensure the safety of response crews and the public. Despite the visual spectacle—which has drawn crowds to the old fort’s walls—mariners are urged to keep a wide berth.
Fortunately, maritime experts, including Professor Sal Mercogliano, suggest the barge was likely not laden at the time of the incident, as it was on its ordinary route from San Juan to the USVI.
Environmental Monitoring
While no pollution has been reported, the USCG continues to monitor the site for any signs of fuel leakage. If the situation escalates, salvage teams from local shipyards may be called in to assist with the extraction and stabilization of the barge.
Impact on Harbour Operations
Surprisingly, the harbour remains open. Because the barge was grounded on the headland and is stuck in the manmade rock installations, it is not currently obstructing the main navigation channel. Shipping companies operating in the region have been advised to exercise caution but can continue scheduled arrivals and departures.
As of Tuesday morning, salvage plans are being drafted to refloat the vessel during the next favourable tide cycle, provided the weather conditions in the Atlantic remain stable.
Sources
* U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast / Sector San Juan Press Releases (Feb 2026).
* The Maritime Executive: “Fuel Barge Goes Hard Aground at San Juan Harbour Entrance.
