On April 20, the barge Beachmaster IV washed ashore near Lake Worth Inlet, Singer Island, Florida. The empty barge was being towed by the 30 meter long tugboat Na Hoku when it broke free while the crew change. The barge washed up on the beach, but was undamaged. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The Coast Guard has reported the barge will be pulled off the beach shortly.
The 31 meter long tugboat Thomas Dann caught fire off Marineland near Jacksonville, Florida. The crew alerted the Coast Guard that the tug was on fire. The crew was able to decouple the tug from the barge before the blaze force the crew to abandon ship into the vessel’s life raft. The six crew were later picked up by a nearby fishing boat. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to the scene and was monitoring the area until a fireboat from Jacksonville could arrive on site. No reports of injuries.
On February 11, the 41 foot long United States Navy patrol vessel 414 ran aground on the southern jetty at the entrance to St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida. The patrol vessel was returning from patrol and proceeding to the Mayport Naval Station when it ran onto the jetty. The five crew on board the 414 were uninjured and rescuers were able to bring the crew ashore safely. The patrol vessel sustained hull damage and water ingress. Reports state salvage efforts were underway.