Unified Command responding to collision on Houston Ship Channel near Bayport, Texas
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/10/2019 08:18 PM EDT
News Release U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Office: (281) 464-4810
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PA Detachment Texas online newsroom
Unified Command responding to collision on Houston Ship Channel near Bayport, Texas
HOUSTON — A unified command has been established to respond to a collision on the Houston Ship Channel at Light 71-74 between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges near Bayport, Texas, Friday.
The unified command consists of the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine.
Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report that the tanker Genesis River and the tug Voyager collided. The tug was transporting two barges loaded with the gasoline blend stock Reformate.
An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew and a Station Houston 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew were launched to assess the situation.
A Port Houston Fire Department fireboat plus oil spill response, air monitoring and salvage personnel are responding.
One barge has capsized and one is reported damaged.
An estimated 25,000 barrels of gasoline blend stock were loaded on each barge. An unknown amount of product has been released from the damaged barge.
Air monitoring is being conducted along the shoreline from Sylvan Beach to Kemah. The first priority of the unified command is public safety. If any readings above actionable levels are detected, advisories will be provided to local emergency operations centers.
The Houston Ship Channel is closed from Light 61-75.
There are no reported injuries at the time.
-USCG-
Incident Update: Water Sampling and Assessment Crews along waterfront areas
The Bayport Channel Collision Response Unified Command has contracted crews working in the local area conducting water sampling, shoreline assessments and, if needed, cleanup of any affected shoreline.
Waterfront property owners may see or be contacted by crews working along the Galveston Bay shoreline. These crews may request access to your property to do their work.
To verify their identity or if you have other questions, you may call the Unified Command at 281-757-3017. For additional information visit: www.bayport-response.com
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 12, 2019.
Media Advisory
Bayport Channel Collision Response Unified Command to hold press briefing at San Jacinto College Maritime Campus
The Unified Command of the Bayport Channel Collision Response is scheduled to hold a press briefing to provide an update on the status of response operations, Saturday.
Who: The Unified Command of the Bayport Channel Collision Response will provide a briefing on the status of response operations.
What: The Unified Command is inviting media to attend the press briefing.
Where: San Jacinto College Maritime Campus, 3700 Old Hwy 146, La Porte, TX 77571
When: Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 3 p.m.
Media interested in attending are requested to arrive no later than 2:30 p.m.
Information concerning response operations can be found at www.bayport-response.com
The joint information center can be contacted at 281-755-4670.
This entry was posted in Media Advisory on May 11, 2019.
Incident Update-Unified Command Issues Health Guidance
Officials with the Unified Command responding to Friday’s spill of a gasoline blend stock product into the Houston Ship Channel have urged area residents and others near the water to avoid direct contact with the product due to potential skin and eye irritations or other more serious risks if subject to long term exposure.
The product was released following Friday afternoon’s collision between a tanker and a tug and barges transporting the product in the Houston Ship Channel near mile Lights 71-74. The incident resulted in the release of approximately 9,000 barrels of Reformate into the water.
Since then, response teams under the direction of unified federal, state and local agencies in coordination with the vessel operator, have been working to contain the spill and implement a plan to safely remove the impacted barges from the ship channel.
The Unified Command urges that the public:
Avoid all visible sheens on the water
Thoroughly wash any impacted skin with soap and water
Stay clear of containment boom on the water
Consult a healthcare professional should specific and serious health concerns arise
Concerns regarding odors that may have resulted from the incident should be addressed to 281-757-3017. For information regarding on-going air monitoring efforts, residents and others in the area may visit www.bayport-response.com
Additionally, people should refrain from interfering with professional teams tasked with conducting air and water quality monitoring in the area, and those teams working to address any shoreline impact that may have occurred.
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 11, 2019.
Incident Update-Captain of the Port partially opens Houston Ship Channel The Captain of the Port in conjunction with the Unified Command partially opened the Houston Ship Channel near Bayport, Texas, Saturday after a collision between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges at Lights 71-74.
The Houston Ship Channel has been opened to one-way tow traffic between Light 66-76. The ship channel remains closed for all other traffic from Light 61-75. The safety zone closing Clear Creek Channel from the entrance to Clear Lake and extending east to Light 66 on the Houston Ship Channel and north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel is still in effect.
As of 3 p.m., there is a queue of 33 vessels inbound and 27 vessels outbound with 91 vessels at anchorage. The Unified Command is working closely with the Port Coordination Team to prioritize vessel traffic movements on the Houston Ship Channel.
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 11, 2019.
Incident Update-Impacted Wildlife Concerns
The Unified Command continues to respond to a collision that occurred Friday on the Houston Ship Channel at Lights 71-74 between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges near Bayport, Texas. The Unified Command’s wildlife rehabilitation team has this message for members of the public who encounter impacted wildlife:
If you encounter wildlife that has been impacted by the recent gasoline blend stock spill, there are things that you can do to protect both yourself and the animals that you observe.
Do not attempt to chase and/or catch the animals; impacted animals are already stressed, and this would only add to the stress they are already under. These animals can harm you and/or themselves while struggling to escape. For this reason, only trained, authorized wildlife professionals should attempt capture.
We are asking that you call the wildlife hotline number that has been established for this incident. The number is 979-215-8835.
Please be prepared to provide the following information:
(1) Number and species (if known) of animals impacted
(2) Date and time that the animals were seen
A 24/7 claims hotline is available at: 1-800-241-9010.
For all media inquiries, the joint information center can be reached at: 281-755-4670.
Incident Website: www.bayport-response.com
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 11, 2019.
Initial Statement
A unified command has been established to respond to a collision on the Houston Ship Channel at Light 71-74 between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges near Bayport, Texas, Friday.
The unified command consists of the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine.
Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report that the tanker Genesis River and the tug Voyager collided. The tug was transporting two barges loaded with the gasoline blend stock Reformate.
An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew and a Station Houston 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew were launched to assess the situation.
A Port Houston Fire Department fireboat plus oil spill response, air monitoring and salvage personnel are responding.
One barge has capsized and one is reported damaged.
An estimated 25,000 barrels of gasoline blend stock were loaded on each barge. An unknown amount of product has been released from the damaged barge.
Air monitoring is being conducted along the shoreline from Sylvan Beach to Kemah. The first priority of the unified command is public safety. If any readings above actionable levels are detected, advisories will be provided to local emergency operations centers.
The Houston Ship Channel is closed from Light 61-75.
There are no reported injuries at the time.
This entry was posted in New Releases on May 10, 2019.
News Release # 2
The Unified Command continues to respond to a collision on the Houston Ship Channel at Lights 71-74 between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges near Bayport, Texas, Friday.
One barge has capsized and one is significantly damaged. An estimated 25,000 barrels of gasoline blend stock were loaded on each barge. An unknown amount of product has been released from the damaged barge.
The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health is conducting around the clock air monitoring in the communities west of the bay. Air monitoring results will be published on the response website at www.bayport-response.com. At this time, no readings have been recorded above actionable levels, however, any readings above actionable levels will be immediately reported to the appropriate emergency operations center.
A 24/7 air monitoring hotline has been established for the public to report strong gasoline odors at: 281-757-3017. Members of the community who feel they may require medical attention should still call 911.
1600-feet of boom has been deployed around the barges. Additional boom is being deployed and staged to protect sensitive areas along the bay.
The Houston Ship Channel is closed from Light 61-75. A safety zone has closed Clear Creek Channel from the entrance to Clear Lake and extending east to Light 66 on the Houston Ship Channel and north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel.
Salvage teams are on scene assessing the damaged barges and additional salvage assets are in route.
A 24/7 claims hotline is available at: 1-800-241-9010.
There are no reported injuries at this time.
For all media inquiries, the joint information center can be reached at: 281-755-4670.
This entry was posted in New Releases on May 10, 2019
News Release # 3
The Unified Command, consisting of the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, Kirby Inland Marine and Port of Houston Fire Department, continues to respond to a collision on the Houston Ship Channel at Lights 71-74 between a 755-foot tanker and a tug pushing two barges near Bayport, Texas, Saturday.
One barge has capsized and one is significantly damaged. An estimated 25,000 barrels of gasoline blend stock were loaded on each barge. Current estimates predict a release of 9,000 barrels of the blend stock Reformate into the Houston Ship Channel.
There are no injuries reported at this time.
The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, Environmental Protection Agency and a Port of Houston Fire Boat are conducting around the clock air monitoring in the communities west of the bay and in locations reported through the Air Monitoring hotline.
Air monitoring performed under the Unified Command-approved plans indicate that petroleum-related compounds are not present at levels that would cause a health concern. Air monitoring results and details on the actionable levels being used by the Unified Command to evaluate real-time air monitoring data are provided in the Community Air Sampling and Analysis Plan, available at www.bayport-response.com.
A 24/7 hotline has been established for the public to report strong gasoline odors and waterway contamination: 281-757-3017. Members of the community who feel they may require medical attention should still call 911.
More than 3,800-feet of absorbent and containment boom has been deployed as of 8:30 a.m. with an additional 12,150-feet of containment boom scheduled to be deployed throughout the day with a focus on environmentally sensitive areas. Boom deployment is subject to delay due to weather, especially lightning in the area.
The Unified Command is monitoring the weather to ensure the safety of response personnel and revise the response action plan as necessary.
There have been no reported impacts on wildlife at this time. Animal wildlife rehabilitation crews are standing by to respond if a report should occur.
The Houston Ship Channel is closed from Light 61-75. Additionally, a safety zone has closed Clear Creek Channel from the entrance to Clear Lake and extending east to Light 66 on the Houston Ship Channel and north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel.
As of 9 a.m., there is a queue of 30 vessels inbound and 17 vessels outbound with 85 vessels at anchorage. The Unified Command is working closely with the Port Coordination Team to minimize the impact on the Houston Ship Channel.
Salvage teams are on scene assessing the damaged barges and additional salvage assets are in route.
A 24/7 claims hotline is available at: 1-800-241-9010.
For all media inquiries, the joint information center can be reached at: 281-755-4670.
This entry was posted in New Releases on May 11, 2019.
Additionally, mariners are prohibited from exiting Clear Creek into the bay.
News Release # 4
Unified Command Continues Aggressive Response to Bayport Channel Vessel Incident
Members of the Unified Command established in response to Friday’s tanker / tug collision near Bayport, Texas continue to deploy material and personnel resources to limit environmental impacts and fully reopen the Houston Ship Channel to maritime commerce.
The incident occurred late Friday afternoon when the tug Voyager was stuck by the 755-foot tanker Genesis River near Lights 71-74 in the Houston Ship Channel. While there were no crew injuries associated with the incident, approximately 9000 barrels of gasoline blend stock was released into the channel from one of two barges being pushed by the tug. The second barge was overturned and remains near the channel. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Current response priorities established by the Unified Command of federal, state and local officials and representatives of Kirby Inland Marine are the health and safety of persons living or working in the area, including those responding to the incident, protection of water quality and marine life in Galveston Bay, shoreline protection and clean up, and the safe and timely removal of the two damaged barges.
Since the incident occurred, response officials have continually conducted air monitoring throughout the area, posting results of that monitoring on the response organization’s website, www.bayport-response.com. As of noon today, 2700 samples have been taken and analyzed. Concerns regarding odors that may have resulted from the incident should be addressed to 281-757-3017. For further health concerns or questions, the regional poison control center can be reached at 1-800-222-1222
Water quality testing teams are also contacting home and property owners along the bay to conduct sampling and assess the need for shoreline remediation. Shoreline residents wishing to verify the identity of spill response personnel seeking access to property may call 281-757-3017.
As of 12 pm today, the Unified Command reports a significant commitment of assets throughout the impacted area including:
334 federal, state and local response personnel engaged in both planning and implementing the response and clean-up operations
8 skimmers are in operation
The deployment of 20,550 feet of product containment and absorbent boom to limit the spread of spilled product
Salvage assets on site include multiple spud barges to secure the damaged barges in place, a crane barge, a lightering barge and lightering pumps.
Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams deployed to areas where product may have reached shore.
Salvage teams have secured the barges in their current locations near the channel and are beginning to remove cargo from those barges. Work is expected to continue throughout the day with an established priority of ensuring the protection of the Bay from the additional release of product from the barge. Once cargo is removed from the barges, they will be relocated from the incident area.
Although a partial closure of the ship channel remains in effect, one way ship and two way barge traffic has been restored. The United States Coast Guard reports that there are 47 outbound vessels and 48 inbound vessels waiting to make safe passage through the channel as of 2 p.m. Sunday.
The previously established navigation safety zone was expanded at 11 a.m. Sunday to include the area from the western shores of Lower Galveston Bay, extending south to Eagle Point in San Leon, east up to but not including the Houston Ship Channel, then extending north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel. All boaters are prohibited from exiting Clear Creek into the bay or operating in the area covered by the safety zone.
A telephone hotline has been established for persons wishing to report impacted fish or wildlife: 979/215-8835.
Persons wishing to pursue a claim in the response to the incident may call 800/241-9010.
This entry was posted in New Releases on May 12, 2019.
Incident Update: Unified Command Provides New Resources, Updated Guidance for Questions Regarding Health Concerns
Federal, state and local agencies responding to Friday’s vessel incident in Bayport, Texas have updated resources available to the public for persons who may be concerned regarding potential health impacts from the incident.
Information from the U.S. Center for Disease Control regarding the potential health impacts of the product spilled in Friday’s collision between the tug Voyager and the 755-foot tanker Genesis River may be accessed at:
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=83
The Texas Poison Control Center may be reached at 800-222-1222 and can also respond to citizen questions about exposure to chemicals.
Teams continue to aggressively assess air quality throughout communities near the incident site. As of 12 p.m. Sunday, assessment teams have taken over 2700 readings with no findings above actionable levels. Air monitoring reports remain available at www.bayport-response.com. Reports of gasoline-like odors may be made to 281-757-3017.
Residents and others near the water are urged to avoid contact with water that may have been impacted by the gasoline blend stock product released from one of two barges struck by the tanker. That guidance includes:
Avoiding all visible sheens on the water
Thoroughly washing any impacted skin with soap and water
Staying clear of containment boom on the water and against the shoreline This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 12, 2019.
Incident Update-Unified Command Expands Marine Safety Zone
Unified Command has expanded the previously established navigation safety zone around Friday’s vessel incident and product spill near Bayport, Texas Sunday morning,
The expanded safety zone includes the area from the western shores of Lower Galveston Bay, starting at the south side of the Bayport Channel, then extending south to Eagle Point in San Leon, then east up to but not including the Houston Ship Channel, then extending north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel, then west to the shoreline.
Additionally, mariners are prohibited from exiting Clear Creek into the bay.
These temporary restrictions are in place to protect mariners and response crews operating in the area, and to prevent the inadvertent spread of product into other parts of the bay.
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 12, 2019.
Incident Update: Water Sampling and Assessment Crews along waterfront areas
The Bayport Channel Collision Response Unified Command has contracted crews working in the local area conducting water sampling, shoreline assessments and, if needed, cleanup of any affected shoreline.
Waterfront property owners may see or be contacted by crews working along the Galveston Bay shoreline. These crews may request access to your property to do their work.
To verify their identity or if you have other questions, you may call the Unified Command at 281-757-3017. For additional information visit: www.bayport-response.com
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 12, 2019.
Media Advisory
Bayport Channel Collision Response Unified Command to hold press briefing at San Jacinto College Maritime Campus
The Unified Command of the Bayport Channel Collision Response is scheduled to hold a press briefing to provide an update on the status of response operations, Saturday.
Who: The Unified Command of the Bayport Channel Collision Response will provide a briefing on the status of response operations.
What: The Unified Command is inviting media to attend the press briefing.
Where: San Jacinto College Maritime Campus, 3700 Old Hwy 146, La Porte, TX 77571
When: Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 3 p.m.
Media interested in attending are requested to arrive no later than 2:30 p.m.
Information concerning response operations can be found at www.bayport-response.com
The joint information center can be contacted at 281-755-4670.
This entry was posted in Media Advisory on May 11, 2019.
Incident Update-Unified Command Issues Health Guidance
Officials with the Unified Command responding to Friday’s spill of a gasoline blend stock product into the Houston Ship Channel have urged area residents and others near the water to avoid direct contact with the product due to potential skin and eye irritations or other more serious risks if subject to long term exposure.
The product was released following Friday afternoon’s collision between a tanker and a tug and barges transporting the product in the Houston Ship Channel near mile Lights 71-74. The incident resulted in the release of approximately 9,000 barrels of Reformate into the water.
Since then, response teams under the direction of unified federal, state and local agencies in coordination with the vessel operator, have been working to contain the spill and implement a plan to safely remove the impacted barges from the ship channel.
The Unified Command urges that the public:
Avoid all visible sheens on the water
Thoroughly wash any impacted skin with soap and water
Stay clear of containment boom on the water
Consult a healthcare professional should specific and serious health concerns arise
Concerns regarding odors that may have resulted from the incident should be addressed to 281-757-3017. For information regarding on-going air monitoring efforts, residents and others in the area may visit www.bayport-response.com
Additionally, people should refrain from interfering with professional teams tasked with conducting air and water quality monitoring in the area, and those teams working to address any shoreline impact that may have occurred.
This entry was posted in Incident Updates on May 11, 2019.
https://bayport-response.com/
MSIB 39-19 Closure of Clear Creek Channel 5/10/19
Summary: As of May 10, 2019 at 6:00 P.M., the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Captain of the Port has established an emergency temporary safety zone and closure of the Clear Creek Channel from the entrance to Clear Lake extending east to Light 66 on the Houston Ship Channel and north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel. This emergency safety zone is required to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with pollution and salvage operations of a collision between a deep draft vessel and a towing vessel with two barges. Please be advised that this closure coincides with an additional closure of the Houston Ship Channel between Light 61 and 75, as established by VTS Houston/Galveston.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston
Marine Safety Information Bulletin 39-19
Closure of Clear Creek Channel 5/10/19
As of May 10, 2019 at 6:00 P.M., the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Captain of the Port has established an emergency temporary safety zone and closure of the Clear Creek Channel from the entrance to Clear Lake extending east to Light 66 on the Houston Ship Channel and north up to but not including the Bayport Ship Channel. This emergency safety zone is required to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with pollution and salvage operations of a collision between a deep draft vessel and a towing vessel with two barges. Please be advised that this closure coincides with an additional closure of the Houston Ship Channel between Light 61 and 75, as established by VTS Houston/Galveston.
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port is working in close coordination with local and state authorities to continuously evaluate the Houston Ship Channel and affected waterways to reassess the status of the closures and will continue to update mariners. Local residents should continue to follow any direction provided by the County officials.
This bulletin shall remain active until rescinded or superseded by future direction.
K. D. Oditt
Captain, United States Coast Guard
Captain of the Port
Bayport Channel Collision – May 11, 2019 Due to Friday’s shipping collision and chemical release in northwestern Galveston Bay, DSHS is advising people not to fish or eat any seafood from the portions of Galveston and Trinity bays north of a line from the end of the Texas City Dike to Smith Point.
While the spill is not affecting the entire area at this time, changing tidal and weather conditions mean different parts of that area could be affected in the future. DSHS reminds everyone to avoid any fish or shellfish that has an oily or chemical look or smell.
The agency is taking the additional step of temporarily closing private oyster harvesting areas in Galveston Bay. Because oyster season is closed, harvesting is not open to the public at this time.
The chemical involved, a gasoline additive called reformate, evaporates quickly and is not expected to accumulate in fish tissue once it’s gone from the water, so any impact on seafood should be resolved in the coming days or weeks.
Exposure to the chemical vapor does not pose a long-term health concern, but it can cause short-term effects like headache, nausea, and eye irritation in people who come into contact with it. Anyone experiencing health effects should contact their health care provider. People with questions may contact the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222.
DSHS will continue to monitor the situation and update guidance as the situation changes.
People can be exposed to petroleum naphtha in the workplace by breathing it, swallowing it, skin contact, and eye contact. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for petroleum naphtha exposure in the workplace as 500 ppm (2000 mg/m3) over an 8-hour workday. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 350 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday and 1800 mg/m3 over 15 minutes. At levels of 1100 ppm, 10% of the lower explosive limit, petroleum naphtha is immediately dangerous to life and health.[15]
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Naphtha: * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. * Breathing Naphtha can irritate the nose and throat. * Exposure to Naphtha can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0518.pdf
the smell has been bad, it has gotten in our house at times. there is a boom wrapped around the drainage out of the Del Mar Pier ass, i presume to keep the flammable hazardous product from coming up into Bacliff, Texas 77518 Galveston Bay via the drainage at Del Mar, because the Bay water, when tide is high, get's up into that pipe and under Bayshore Dr. seems the smell diminished a bit after this morning, but now i went back out, and it's terrible again. with the flow of flood water out of Clear Creek, this stuff has to come down the shore line, no stopping that. who is taking water samples along Bacliff, Texas 77518 Galveston Bay ?
this is just horrible, how does this keep happening in the ship channel?
the smell has been bad, it has gotten in our house at times. there is a boom wrapped around the drainage out of the Del Mar Pier ass, i presume to keep the flammable hazardous product from coming up into Bacliff, Texas 77518 Galveston Bay via the drainage at Del Mar, because the Bay water, when tide is high, get's up into that pipe and under Bayshore Dr. seems the smell diminished a bit after this morning, but now i went back out, and it's terrible again. with the flow of flood water out of Clear Creek, this stuff has to come down the shore line, no stopping that. who is taking water samples along Bacliff, Texas 77518 Galveston Bay ?
this is just horrible, how does this keep happening in the ship channel?
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
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