A tugboat captain pleaded guilty on July 23 to federal charges after operating a barge with obstructed visibility and without a proper lookout, resulting in a fatal collision in Biscayne Bay that claimed the lives of three children attending a sailing camp.
“Three children lost their lives in a tragedy that never should have happened,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Yusiel Lopez Insua operated a tugboat pushing a massive barge with an obstructed view, failed to assign a lookout, and engaged in cellphone activity while underway. He admitted that his criminal failure to follow basic maritime safety rules caused this deadly collision. Our hearts remain with the children’s families and everyone whose lives were forever changed that day.”
Capt. Frank J. Florio of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami said, “The tragic loss of life in this case is a solemn reminder of why the U.S. Coast Guard stands the watch every day… We remain committed to the highest standards of maritime safety so we can prevent future tragedies and protect the people and communities who rely on our waterways.” Special Agent in Charge Joshua Packer of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service Southeast Region said, “By working together, we were able to bring accountability and justice in this tragic case… Our collective efforts reflect our shared commitment to protecting lives on our nation’s waterways.”
According to court records, Yusiel Lopez Insua was piloting a 25-foot tugboat pushing a construction barge measuring 108 feet long across Biscayne Bay on July 28, 2025. The barge’s forward view was blocked by equipment, no lookout was assigned, and forensic review showed internet activity on Insua’s cellphone during operation—including at or near the time of collision—when he failed to see or avoid a stalled sailboat carrying one counselor and five children from a local sailing camp.
The counselor and two children escaped after being dragged beneath the barge; three other children became trapped under wreckage and drowned as a result of being submerged by the vessel.
Insua pleaded guilty to seaman’s manslaughter charges; he faces up to ten years in federal prison pending sentencing by district court judge consideration under statutory guidelines.
CGIS Southeast Region, USCG Sector Miami, and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating alongside rescue efforts commended from local law enforcement agencies including Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Daniel Rosenfeld, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl, are prosecuting this case.
The office overseeing this prosecution covers approximately 15,197 square miles across nine counties serving more than seven million residents; it includes branch offices throughout South Florida cities such as Fort Lauderdale and Key West with about 223 assistant attorneys among its staff, according to the official website.