The Guantanamo Bay Express News

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Jacksonville is overseeing response operations to the grounding of the 250-foot container barge, Guantanamo Bay Express, which was being pulled by the tugboat Spence while trying to leave the St. Johns River in Mayport at 2 a.m. The barge is located on the north side of the Mayport Jetties and is no concern to inbound or outboard vessel traffic at the entrance of the St. Johns River. Pac-Atlantic Marine Leasing, LCC, owner of the Guantanamo Bay Express has taken prompt action and hired Titan Marine, LLC to remove the barge. Plans have not been finalized or approved by the Coast Guard at this time but salvage operations are anticipated to begin tomorrow.

The 6,000 ton container barge Guantanamo Bay Express, departed Jacksonville, Florida at around midnight on November 12th under tow of the US flag SPENCE on her scheduled service to the US Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Unfortunately, 30 knot gusts and 12 foot seas led to a parted tow wire allowing the barge to drift on to the rocks of the north Mayport Jetties. The owners of the barge took prompt action and engaged Titan Maritime to undertake salvage operations. Titan immediately mobilized the Smith Maritime tugs ELSBETH (1…