By Tom Sharpe*
Every now and then something quite unusual happens at sea. Mechanical failures are not uncommon nor is a tow line parting, particularly in bad weather. A towed container barge running aground is also not unheard of, particularly if the tow just parted. Looting a stricken vessel is not that uncommon either in certain parts of the world, but put all this together, as happened to the US cargo barge Brooklyn Bridge a few days ago off the coast of the Bahamas, and the incident is of note.