N.STAR INDEPENDENCE

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Northstar Independence still in attendance at barge after blaze

The fire onboard the barge 'CMT Y NOT 6' in the Delaware Bay has been extinguished on May 24, and Northstar Environmental and Marine Services have been contracted to assess the integrity of the vessel and manage salvage operations. A Unified Command consisting of representatives from Eastern Metal Recycling, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Cumberland County Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard has been established to oversee salvage operations. A Coast Guard 87-ft Patrol Boat was monitoring the situation and enforcing a safety zone, which was prohibited from entering unless authorized by the Captain of the Port of Delaware Bay. The 500-yard safety zone is being enforced around the barge and the 'Northstar Independence', the contractor’s 185-ft salvage vessel. Should the fire reignite, the 'Northstar Independence' has firefighting capabilities onboard. No sheening or discoloration has been observed on the waterway.

Offshore tug battling barge fire

The 'Northstar Independence' (IMO: 9595814) was battling the fire on the deck barge 'CMT Y NOT 6' near Cross Ledge nine miles off the coast of Port Mahon in the Delaware Bay on May 24, 2022. Even with its fire pumps the fire kept flashing up. Local emergency responders have been working into the afternoon on of May 23 to contain the fire aboard the cargo barge approximately 9 miles off the coast of Port Mahon. Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control were onsite assessing the situation after the fire broke out after 1.15 a.m. on May 23. About six fireboats from local fire agencies were fighting the fire on the barge that was reportedly carrying household appliances for scrap. The USCG and DNREC crews were also looking for debris from the barge and its cargo of disused household appliances and scrap metal and wildlife that might be struggling from the effects of the fire. Bowers Fire Company is leading the incident command. The USCG and DNREC crews continued to monitor the situation. The fire was finally put out on May 24 at 4 a.m. Report with photos: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/photos-deck-barge-catches-fire-in-delaware-river