Collision Closes Houston Ship Channel

A chemical tanker collided with a moored barge near the San Jacinto Monument at approximately 9 p.m. today. The Captain of the Port Houston/Galveston closed the ship channel at 11 p.m. from San Jacinto Port Dock 4 to Light 133 due to oil spilled from the collision.

The tanker Ievoli Splendor, a 544-foot chemical tanker, was mooring up at the Vopak Terminal in Deer Park, Texas, when the collision with the Kirby Marine barge happened causing a spill of heavy grade fuel oil C5.

Containment boom has been deployed around the ship and the dock to contain the fuel/oil. The extent of damage to the ship and barge is not known. The Ievoli Splendor is presently moored at San Jacinto Port Dock 5.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Houston and the Texas General Land Office are responding to the incident.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.