Sunken Vessel; Freeport, Texas

Freeport, Texas | 1998-Nov-09

Initial Notification: On November 9, 1998, USCG Station Freeport received a cellular phone call from the F/V Joyce. She was listing hard to port and taking on water in 8- to10-foot seas southeast of Freeport, Texas. Fearing the vessel would sink, the three crew members were safely hoisted by a USCG HH-65 and taken to shore. NOAA was notified of this incident by MSO Galveston who requested a tactical trajectory and evaluation of the potential environmental threat of spilled diesel. The fishing vessel was reported sunk about 1 mile off the Texas coast, just south of Freeport. The vessel had 3, 00 gallons of diesel fuel onboard. NOAA provided detailed trajectory implications. Subsequent overflights identified the vessel as awash, but not sunk. There were no reports of oil leaking from the vessel and the vessel was salvaged. USCG district 8. Keyword: none.