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Matagorda Island News

02 Dec 2021

Kirby Inland Marine to Pay $15.3M in Damages Over 2014 Oil Spill

 (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery)

Houston, Texas-based Kirby Inland Marine agreed to pay $15.3 million in damages and assessment costs to resolve federal and state claims for harm to natural resources resulting from a 2014 oil spill from a Kirby barge in the Houston Ship Channel, the U.S. Justice Department said.In a related enforcement action in 2016, the United States secured a settlement with Kirby for $4.9 million in civil penalties and injunctive relief measures to improve the company's operations to help…

07 Apr 2014

Update: Response Efforts Continue on South Matagorda Island

Photo courtesy of Texas City "Y" Response

Effective shoreline clean-up efforts are on-going, Saturday, along Mustang, South Matagorda and North Padre islands in response to the Texas City oil spill. As of sunset Friday, response workers have removed a total of 200,775 pounds of oiled sand and oiled debris from the shorelines of Mustang, North Padre and South Matagorda islands. These figures include 102,700 pounds of oiled material from Mustang Island, 93,550 pounds from South Matagorda and 4,525 pounds from shoreline around Bob Hall pier.

03 Apr 2014

Texas City Spill Clean-up Continues

More than 465 response contractors continued work today along the shores of Mustang and South Matagorda Islands and Padre Island National Seashore, employing conventional clean-up methods with rakes, shovels and buckets. A 9-mile stretch of shoreline along Matagorda Island is a primary emphasis of these crews today. “Federal and state wildlife agencies continue to be focused on protecting these sensitive areas for the benefit of wildlife and are working closely to coordinate with our partners in the cleanup operations,” said Nancy Brown, Public Outreach Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. As of sunset on Wednesday, the Unified Command report that a total of 119…

28 Mar 2014

USCG Lifts Matagorda Safety Zone, Response Ongoing

Boom is put in place to prevent oil from the Texas City collision from affecting environmentally-sensitive areas in Matagorda Bay, March 28, 2014. Approximately 150 response personnel have placed more than 16,000 feet of boom. (Unified response photo)

Oil spill responders from the Matagorda Incident Command Post in Port O’Connor, Texas, continue to implement their aggressive plans, Friday, intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas of the Matagorda Bay area against any impact from a portion of the oil spilled in Saturday’s ship-barge collision near Texas City, Texas. Effective at 10 a.m. today, the U.S. Coast Guard has lifted the safety zone, which had been in effect for the Matagorda Ship Channel from the sea buoy to the intersection of the ship channel with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway…

27 Mar 2014

Texas City Oil Spill Update: Pollution Affects Coast

Oil washing ashore Matagorda Island: USCG photo

The Captain of the Port of Houston/Galveston opened the bay to all traffic Thursday after multiple cleanup assessments and input from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Oil is washing up on Matagorda Island. Coast Guard recruit volunteer 'Sentinels. After storms Wednesday afternoon and evening slowed cleanup efforts somewhat in the Ports of Texas City and Galveston because of safety concerns, responders quickly ramped up their operations during the first hours of daylight to resume cleaning contaminated areas, Thursday.

27 Mar 2014

Texas City "Y" Spill Response Update

Oil spill responders established a Matagorda Bay Forward Branch in Port O’Connor, Texas, to coordinate protection of the environment of the Matagorda Bay area, as a portion of the oil spilled on Saturday in a ship-barge collision near Texas City, Texas, moves south along the Texas Coast. A Unified Command including the U.S Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine, the owner of the vessel from which the oil was spilled, began their response efforts today implementing aggressive plans intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas against impact from the oil, based on priorities already established in the Area Contingency Plan.

05 Mar 2004

First 123-ft Deepwater System Cutter Delivered

During a celebration to commemorate the delivery of the first Deepwater surface asset under the Integrated Deepwater System, the Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins accepted delivery of the vessel and returned the CG Ensign to the USCG Cutter Matagorda today, Friday, March 5, 2004, at Bollinger Shipyards, in Lockport, La. The ceremony celebrated the delivery, which officially occurred on Monday, March 1, of the first newly completed 123-ft. patrol boat, USCGC Matagorda, manufactured by HBJV, a joint venture of Bollinger Shipyards LLC and VT Halter Marine, Inc of Gulfport, Miss.

16 Nov 2005

Coast Guard Rescues Stranded Boaters

Three men were rescued by a Corpus Christi based Coast Guard helicopter crew this morning after being washed ashore on Matagorda Island during the severe storms that struck the area last night. The men contacted authorities reporting they were stranded by the severe weather and were washed ashore on an island near Port O'Connor, TX. A Rescue Swimmer was lowered to asses the men's condition and prepare them to be lifted into the helicopter. All three men were hoisted aboard and transported to Coast Guard Station Port O'Connor. The men were uninjured but very cold due to the winds and lower temperatures. The Coast Guard was unable to respond immediately to the call with a rescue boat or helicopter due to the severity of the weather.

25 Aug 1999

Houston Exploration Obtains Leases In Private Transaction

Houston Exploration has acquired 100 percent working interests in six offshore leases from ATP Oil & Gas Corporation. Varying from 25 to 100 percent, the Gulf of Mexico locales include blocks on Matagorda Island, Vermilion, South Timbalier and Galveston. With total bidding amounting to $1 million, the company is also involved in the formation of another joint venture with KeySpan Energy. The project will entail the exploration and development of the company's current unspoiled offshore acreage.