Engine Room Explosion on Tug

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – One man was airlifted this afternoon after an engine room explosion on board a tug.

The man was airlifted by a Coast Guard rescue helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City and taken to Saint Barnabas Hospitals burn unit in Livingston, N.J.

The tug, Robert J. Bouchard, was towing an empty oil barge 9-miles off of Seaside Heights, N.J., when the explosion occurred. Coast Guard received the call from crewmembers using the tugs marine radio at 12:03 p.m.

The remaining five people on board were removed from the tug with out incident. Three of the crewmembers were taken back to Coast Guard Station Manasquan while the other two remained on board a New Jersey State Police boat. Other assetts on scene were a 47-foot patrol boat and a 23-foot rigid hull inflatable boat from Coast Guard Station Manasquan and one good samaratin vessel.

The Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Police are continuing to monitor the vessel.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation.