Scores of boats tie up alongside stranded container barge raiding the vessel of its cargo in North Abaco on November 13, 2025.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
SCORES of looters in small boats swarmed a stranded container barge yesterday, hauling away goods in such volume that some joked “Christmas come early for Abaco” – while others phoned around asking if anyone had a boat to spare.
The grounded barge, The Brooklyn Bridge, quickly became the centre of brazen daylight raids, sparking wild scenes as people climbed containers and tossed supplies down to boats waiting below. Videos captured residents shouting, laughing, and transporting away everything from toilet paper and dog food to appliances. One resident described it as a “free-for-all.”
The barge was reportedly being towed by the Southern Dawn from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when its steel line snapped in bad weather, drifting the vessel onto a reef near Nunjack Cay in North Abaco on Wednesday. Residents learned of the incident early yesterday and headed out before authorities arrived.
Defence Force and police officers were later deployed to secure the scene until a replacement tug could return. Stephen Wilson, island administrator for North Abaco, told The Tribune a second tug was expected to arrive today.
Mr Wilson condemned the looting but said police are unlikely to pursue those who took supplies. “It might be illegal, but at the same time they're lightening the weight on the boat,” he said.
He estimated more than 20 boats converged on the barge, saying many people assumed the goods were abandoned. He stressed the cargo had not been left to residents and should not have been taken.
“What we will try to do in the morning is try to prevent persons from being around the craft so that when the other boat comes, they won't be in the way in the event that the line fully pops or breaks away and cause anyone to get hurt,” he said.
The Ministry of Transport said it is in direct contact with the barge owners and that an assessment team has already examined the vessel.
Officials said: “At this time, no environmental impact is anticipated,” adding that a full environmental assessment will follow once the vessel is removed.
Mr Wilson said the barge held “everything you can think of,” estimating millions of dollars’ worth of supplies aboard. An insurance representative was also on the vessel yesterday.
Images circulating online show piles of dog food, washing machines, rugs, fitness equipment, furniture, and other goods stacked inside opened containers. The Tribune understands vehicles were also onboard, but obviously could not been stolen.
Reaction online was divided. Some residents condemned the looting, while others celebrated the haul.
Bishop Cedric Bullard of the North Abaco Pastors Association defended the residents’ actions, calling it a “normal thing” in the islands.
“People are not really checking like that to say, well, it belongs to me or you,” he said. “If they see it on the water and no one is guarding it, and I shouldn’t use this term, but it's like back in the day when dope used to be running around, you grab what you want.”
Comments
Sickened 2 weeks, 6 days ago
What an embarrassing comment to be made by a Bishop of all people. The rules of Christianity according to the 'good' Bishop - if it's unguarded then of course you should take it, it's a normal thing.
The poor morality of the Bahamian people clearly falls at the feet of our corrupt governments and so many of our "religious" leaders.
tell_it_like_it_is 2 weeks, 6 days ago
They weren't stealing, they were "lightening the load of the boat"! Say what?
I wonder if I can go into the food store and lighten the load of their inventory without paying too? SMH🤦♂️
Seaman 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Mr Wilson and the Bishop appear to be complete @$$ holes...Mr Wilson only went out to the barge to video it along with MP Cornish. Ask Mr Wilson to name the person who told everyone to remove stuff to lighten the load. Shameful, after all the help these people got after Dorian. Truth be known the only reason the looting stopped is the US probably got involved.
whatsup 2 weeks, 6 days ago
This Country is so full of corrupt people and harder and harder and to find descent Bahamians. Most of them want something for nothing, and they don't even care if it is legal or not.
hj 2 weeks, 6 days ago
And then people complain about the dishonest politicians in our country. If ordinary people openly steal and have no problem with it,why do we expect politicians to be any different? Bahamian politicians are elected Bahamian,so people get what they deserve. As for the local administratior and the religious leader are shining examples of the morality of the Bahamas
joeblow 2 weeks, 6 days ago
... no question this is wrong, but people seem to forget a time in the past when the unscrupulous would use lights to intentionally lure ships onto the reefs so that they would wreck and people could scavenge the proceeds! Humans have the capacity to commit great acts of evil!
lovingbahamas 2 weeks, 6 days ago
The politicians and clergy say it's ok to steal what isn't yours if no one is there to prevent you. Kind of like after Dorian for years when it was a free for all. I am really ashamed of my fellow Bahamians for this kind of attitude.
pt_90 2 weeks, 6 days ago
sometimes i forget if the this is satire or not
Jetflt 2 weeks, 6 days ago
No its not. That's how we Bahamians think.
hrysippus 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Come visit Abaco. Free Brand New Washing machine to every tenth visitor. Stock up on inexpensive toilet tissue. Management is not responsible for minor rust spots from exposure to seawater......
Jetflt 2 weeks, 6 days ago
What a stupid and ignorant statement by the Administrator, Stephen Wilson. So because the criminals were lightening the load, I suppose that makes it ok. Da Bahamas at its finest!
Mr Wilson condemned the looting but said police are unlikely to pursue those who took supplies. “It might be illegal, but at the same time they're lightening the weight on the boat,” he said.**
Jetflt 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Like a bunch of Somali pirates
TalRussell 2 weeks, 6 days ago
"Says plenty about the ones who swore life oaths as Bootleggers to rise to possibilities is never lost on us comrades, carrying Abacoian genes." --- Not my to question, could've the ship been lured to run aground?
Bonefishpete 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Now be sure to pays your duty on all that stuff.
DiverBelow 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Education? Who needs da high school degree, 'wrecking' was a good enough career for my great grandfather! God musta had hand in breaking da tow cable!
AnObserver 2 weeks, 5 days ago
So will this sit on the reef for a decade like the other one? I'm sure the owners will never be held accountable in any way, just like the other barge sitting on top of a reef in Abaco.
And how is it that the Defense Force, with all their fancy new boats, wasn't on the scene before all the looters?
buddah17 2 weeks, 5 days ago
This is truly an embarresment to our country. IMHO the administrator AND pastor should be put in jail for their comments
TalRussell 2 weeks, 5 days ago
@ComradeBuddah17, to the contrary, it's a "Christmas 2025 Can Come Early Sermon" for all Out Islanders." Preach it across all we 1200 chain of out islands, cays-towns and settlements'. The Administrator can accompany Pastor as Collector of Love Offerings'.**
Entrepreneur 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Gotta love Bahamas !!!!
TalRussell 2 weeks, 4 days ago
@ComradeEntrepreneur, you'll sense such and it doesn't matter which the 1200 chain of out islands, cays-towns and settlements' you end up on.....Exceptin'. Nassau Town.
LastManStanding 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Honestly at first I was furious about this and thought these people should have been imprisoned but after hearing a few different perspectives on this I'm convinced a lot of people went there in ignorance of how salvage/wreck law really works. It would be prudent not to charge these people on the condition that they return the goods and use this moment as teaching lesson for how maritime law works in cases like this.
Also the American media is wrong for slandering these people as pirates. Yes they were wrong for what they did but the vessel was abandoned, at no point did they hijack or otherwise forcefully take over the vessel. As usual facts don't matter to a lot of people though.
ThisIsOurs 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Charge each and every one of them with stealing
They took goods that obviously someone had paid for
This was within hours of the incident, so how could anybody say "it was abandoned"? They're simply trying to justify what they know was wrong. It's a ridiculous copout.
The island administrator said "yes its illegal, but", the Bishop offered some perverted "common man" interpretation of stealing your neighbours fruits because, my words, "what they need all them for".
When I hear people make these kinds of statements I immediately wonder if they or their relatives have the stolen washing machine or dryer in the back room. A Bishop no less, my God save us.
ThisIsOurs 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Keep in mind that after a disaster, these same people will come to your "abandoned" house looking for tings... as the people ironically in Abaco experienced... maybe this the same prehistoric man crew
If any of them hold residency certificates, revoke it now**. They are beyond salvaging and a national security threat
LastManStanding 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Look you are misunderstanding me, I'm not defending these people I'm just saying some of them may have done what they did not completely understanding they were in the wrong. All I'm saying is they should have a chance to return the goods and not be prosecuted if they do. Truth is even if this ship was completely wrecked and going to sink they didn't have a right to just go and do that and I think that is something that needs to be stressed. Not a lot of people are aware of maritime law.
Yes, the ship was abandoned. Nobody was on it. It doesn't make it right but it's not like they went there with firearms and held the crew hostage. Labeling them as pirates is misrepresenting the situation.
Regarding your comment on Abaco post Dorian I hate to tell you but I know people that were told by law enforcement to just go ahead and take whatever they needed to survive food gas or whatever because the whole area was a massive disaster zone and there was nothing else they could do. Yes lots of people looted goods after Dorian and should be punished for that but truth is you might've had to puncture someones tank for gas or steal food from a store because there was no where else to get these things right away. Nassau people shouldn't talk about Dorian because you guys have never experienced anything like that and in a SHTF situation you're going to have to do the same thing to survive.
ThisIsOurs 2 weeks, 4 days ago
I understood. I was not trying to attack you. Sorry it sounded like that. I am staying a 3 year old knows what stealing is. There's no excuse for big grown men with boats... ironically likely fishermen who complain about foreigners stealing fish from the "abandoned" ocean.
My understanding was post Dorian maurauders were stealing construction supplies with Abaco business and homeowners having to arm themselves to protect property. I understand a possible need to take food, I believe theres a law that allows the govt to claim assets for the common good post disaster, but that wasnt the intent, it was profiteering. In Nassau post hurricane there are accounts of persons breaking into houses of people who took refuge in shelters. These are opportunists.
LastManStanding 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Oh yeah there definitely was loads of looting just for the sake of taking things post Dorian but some of it was necessary for survival. Again it was a situation where things like banks shops whatever just didn't exist right away and if it was truly necessary you had to do it. In a real SHTF situation like that survival is the number one priority.
No I didn't feel attacked or whatever I just think some of these people definitely went there out of ignorance thinking they had some type of law covering them because the ship was abandoned. Thing what a lot of people don't know is even if a ship has been wrecked or abandoned for years you can't just go taking things off of it, there is a lot of public misconceptions about that. All of that is why I just said I think they should be given a chance to do the right thing before prosecuting them.
The only thing I will "defend" these people on is the fact that American media is labeling them as pirates which is just sensationalism. Piracy is what exists near the Horn or the Red Sea with Somalians or Houthis storming a ship with firearms to hijack it. This was nowhere near that level of criminality and it's just silly to pretend it us and call these people "pirates".
ThisIsOurs 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Piracy doesnt have to involve violence
Porcupine 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Following your discussion. I agree with you.
lovingbahamas 2 weeks, 4 days ago
That shipped wasn’t abandoned more than a car that is broken down by the side of the road is abandoned. There is no possible way to condone this behavior. The divers trying to see what was wrong were blocked by the thieves. This is what the backbone of the Bahamas is like. Yes, during Dorian there is a reality for need for food. However, seeing native Bahamians stealing furniture and other household goods is out and out looting. The Bahamian pride is long gone. They have pictures of every boat name and they should post them.
LastManStanding 2 weeks, 4 days ago
One of the main reasons I bring up the ship being abandoned is that American media is framing this as an act of piracy and calling these people pirates, not to justify the act. Some down the shore folks throwing cheeto puffs and tires out of a container on an abandoned ship is not piracy. Yes a massive amount of stupidity and ignorance was behind this but calling this piracy is just sensationalizing this story far past what actually happened.
TalRussell 2 weeks, 4 days ago
She's written into Abaco's Constitution. ---- "Wrecking/Salvaging, not same as Looting and 'Tis a passable-down Profession and CAN be Willed that takes effect upon a person's death!!
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