Houston Ship Channel Closed Due to Tug Fire
A boat fire at LyondellBasell facility has forced a brief closure of the Houston Ship Channel
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has briefly closed a portion of the Houston Ship Channel, as coast guard crews and local fire departments responded to a tugboat engulfed in flames, moored at the LyondellBasell refinery, about 2 miles east of Interstate 610, Friday.
The tugboat, San Gabriel, was moored next to an empty sulfur barge when it caught fire and the crewmembers were able to evacuate safely, the Coast Guard said.
The refinery called Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston watchstanders to report the fire. Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders launched a Station Houston 29-foot response boat crew to the scene to meet shoreside fire crews and the Port of Houston fireboat.
The safety zone near Interstate 610 was in place until it was clear for traffic to navigate through the area, from 12:15 a.m. until 2 a.m., between Simms Bayou and Light 162.
