Harvey Challenger; Galveston, Texas

Galveston, Texas | 1999-Jun-09

Initial Notification: In the early morning hours of June 9, 1999, the tug Harvey Challenger with barge, The City of New Orleans in tow, allided with the rock jetty at the entrance to Galveston Bay, Texas. The City of New Orleans, a chemical carrier, was loaded with propane. The accident holed both the tug and the barge, but neither seriously. None of the propane tanks on the barge were compromised, but the barge took on water and began to list. After first light, what initially was thought to be a small fuel oil release, appeared much greater. The tug released an estimated 1200 gallons of fuel oil (the potential spill was estimated at 5000 gallons). The area threatened by the spill included many very sensitive wildlife resource areas. Birds were at the greatest risk of impact from this spill because they were present in very large numbers and many of the species present do not avoid oiled areas. Species present at this time were: brown pelicans (federal, endangered species), a wide range of shorebirds (such as dunlins, sandpipers), wading birds (egrets, avocets, stilts), many species of terns, skimmers, gulls, and cormorants. The piping plover (state and federal threatened) was also present.. There are two areas of very high bird concentrations: the Bolivar Flats area just north of the North Jetty, and Pelican Island. Pelican Island is an important nesting area, with up to 11,000 royal terns, 5600 royal terns, and 21,000 laughing gulls nesting there. Large numbers of brown pelicans were also nesting on Pelican Island. USCG district 8. Keyword: endangered species, potential spill.