(PHILADELPHIA) — The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a tugboat fire Tuesday near Pea Patch Island on the Delaware River. All four crewmembers on board were safely evacuated from the vessel by good Samaritans.
The fire has been extinguished and the vessel was placed under tow. The Coast Guard did not identify the tugboat by name.
Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay launched crews from Station Philadelphia and a MH-65E Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City to assist.
At 9:26 a.m., watch standers from Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay received a distress call on VHF Channel 16 from the crew of the tugboat stating the vessel was on fire.
Watch standers issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners and dispatched Coast Guard crews to the area. Local partner agencies also deployed assets in response.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
– U.S. Coast Guard
