T/B 2514; Houston Ship Channel, Bay Port, Texas

Houston Ship Channel, Bay Port, Texas | 1989-Jun-24

Initial Notification: At 1820 on June 23, 1989, the empty tanker RACHEL B collided with Coastal Towing tank barge 2514 in Galveston Bay. Both vessels were damaged, with about 5,700 barrels of heavy "slurry" oil spilling from the barge. The collision occurred at the junction of the Houston and Bay Port Ship channels. The oil moved rapidly westward and diversionary booming operations funnelled an estimated 5,600 barrels of the oil into the west end of the Bay Port Ship Basin by mid-day on June 24. Vacuum equipment was staged at the southwest margin of the basin; recovery operations and containment of the damaged barge 2514 were begun in the Basin. The RACHEL B was reported not to be leaking and was allowed to proceed into Houston Harbor for inspection and repairs to her damaged bow and hull. USCG district 8.