A fuel barge ran aground Monday off the San Juan Harbor port entrance by the San Felipe del Morro Castle in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. coast guard.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, February 9, 2026, has triggered an immediate response from U.S. coast guard sector San Juan units and personnel and local emergency response agencies.
No injuries or missing crew members have been reported, and there are no indications of pollution from the barge at this time, according to information provided by U.S. coast guard sector San Juan and U.S. coast guard Southeast.
The 265-foot barge was reportedly being towed inbound to San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, just before the grounding occurred. The cause of the grounding is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
Coast Guard watchstanders are transmitting a safety marine information broadcast to advise the maritime traffic of the incident.
The Coast Guard urged the public to stay away from the area to allow response agencies to access and work at the site. “Please allow crews to work to ensure the situation doesn’t get worse,” the statement reads.
Coast Guard marine units on-scene continue to monitor the situation.
So far, the Port of San Juan remains open to vessel traffic as the barge is not obstructing the harbor entrance or navigable waterway.
The Coast Guard is deploying its services and the Incident Management Team to handle the response.
#Breaking @USCG Sector #SanJuan, partner agency crews are responding to a grounded fuel barge off San Juan Harbor, Mon. No reports of injuries, pollution at this time. A marine safety broadcast is transmitting. Please stay away from the area so response crews can work safely. pic.twitter.com/ix7X3XqjCV
— U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) February 9, 2026
Video credit: U.S. coast guard Southeast / U.S. coast guard sector San Juan
