Apex 3417 Barge, Apex 3503 Barge; near buoy 58 in Galveston Bay, Texas

near buoy 58 in Galveston Bay, Texas | 1990-Jul-28

Initial Notification: On July 28, 1990, at 1430, the Greek Tank Vessel Shinoussa collided with the tank barges Apex 3417 and Apex 3503 in the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) near buoy 58 in Galveston Bay, Texas. All three cargo tanks of the Apex 3417 were damaged, as well as the aft tank of the Apex 3503, resulting in the release of nearly 17,000 barrels of No. 5 oil (vacuum oil/catalytic feed stock) into Galveston Bay. A third tank barge also under tow, the Apex 3510, was not damaged in the collision. The Apex 3417 sank with its stern resting on the bottom of the channel and only its bow showing above the water. It released nearly all of its cargo, over 15,000 barrels of oil, over the course of two days. Apex 3503 was less damaged and ultimately released 1130 barrels of oil into the water. The Apex 3510 was towed to Houston, discharged its 23,000 barrel cargo, and returned on July 30 to offload the remaining oil from the Apex 3503. The USCG Marine Safety Office (MSO) Galveston closed the Houston Ship Channel to marine traffic from two miles north to two miles south of the incident site (between buoys 51 and 60). Apex Towing Co., Inc. immediately accepted responsibility for the spill. Apex hired Riedel-Peterson Environmental Services to contain the oil at the site of the barges, and T & T Marine Salvage to raise and remove the Apex 3417 barge from the channel. On July 29, Malin Environmental was hired for additional cleanup assistance, and the Clean Gulf Association provided skimmers for use by Apex. In a meeting with the USCG On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), Apex was criticized for allowing the cleanup contractors to operate without direct supervision. At the suggestion of the OSC, Apex hired O'Brien Oil Pollution Services to oversee the cleanup operations as well as Garner Environmental Services and Industrial Cleanup, Inc. for addition cleanup support. On July 30, the cargo of theApex 3503 was lightered to the Apex 3510 which was then taken to Houston for offloading. On July 31, the HSC was opened to inbound single-width barge tows only, under positive control of the Vessel Traffic Service, and with assistance from at least one tug when proceeding past the accident site. These traffic restrictions remained in effect until August 3. Following the movement of Apex 3417 from the middle of the channel on August 3, the HSC was restricted to one-way traffic only, with direction of travel being reversed every 8 to 12 hours. After cleaning, gas freeing, and welding repairs, Apex 3417 was towed to Galveston. The HSC was opened to all ship traffic without restriction on August 10. Cleanup operations continued until the case was closed on August 17, 1990. USCG district 8. Keyword: Low pressure washing, vacuum truck, sorbent boom, containment boom, skimmer, shallow water recovery, Alpha Bio-Sea microbes, collision, sinking, salvage, Clean Gulf, lightering..