Tug Allision Causes Diesel Spill in Texas
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi and the Texas General Land Office are responding to an oil spill at mile marker 667 on the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Isabel, Wednesday.
Watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a report that the uninspected towing vessel Capt. Jim Green allided with a dock at the Subsea 7 facility, releasing approximately 20,000 gallons of low sulfur diesel fuel into the waterway at 11:24 p.m., Tuesday.
A Unified Command consisting of the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine has been established in response to the allision and diesel spill.
Miller Environmental, an oil spill response organization, is currently on scene conducting air monitoring and oil recovery operations. The source of the spill has been secured.
There have been no reported impacts to wildlife at this time.
"We were immediately notified by the crew of Jim Green and responded quickly with our partners at the Texas General Land Office," said Capt. Tony Hahn, commander, Sector Corpus Christi. "We will be assessing the impacted areas quickly and will ensure a robust and thorough cleanup."
The Coast Guard is conducting an over flight with pollution responders from the Coast Guard and Texas General Land Office to get an accurate assessment of the impact to the waterway and surrounding areas. The Coast Guard is also broadcasting a safety marine information broadcast every hour.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.