GALVESTON BAY BARGE, BUOY 58; GALVESTON BAY, TX

GALVESTON BAY, TX | 1990-Jul-29

Initial Notification: Sometime on the afternoon of Saturday, 28 July, the Tanker Vessel Shnoussa collided with 3 barges near buoy 58 in Galveston Bay (29 29.9N 094 52.2W). One barge was undamaged and was towed to Houston. The second barge was damaged and was put aground on a sand island near buoy 58. The third barge was damaged and sunk by the stern. The bow is out of the water and two tugs are standing by. Both the grounded and sunken barges have been boomed off, but there is a three mile long slick in Galveston Bay. An estimated 50,000 gallons of vacuum oil (catylic feed stock) is in the water. Pour point of the product is greater than 75 degrees F, API is 25.1. Chris Nelson, NOAA SSC was notified Sunday morning, 29 July and is enroute. ETA Galveston is 1600L today. MSO Galveston telephone is (409) 766-3687. Winds are light and variable. USCG district 8.