In Galveston, Texas, a barge and the Pelican Island Causeway collided, resulting in damage to the bridge, the closure of the route to all motor vehicles, and an oil spill.
Local time, the crash happened at around ten in the morning. Officials from Galveston announced in a press statement that no injuries had been reported. A portion of the train trestle that runs alongside the bridge appears to have collapsed, according to video footage received by CBS affiliate KHOU.
Vice President of Martin Midstream Partners L.P.’s marine division Richard Freed said the ship broke free from its tow and drifted into the bridge. According to Freed, there were employees there and the ship was owned and operated by Martin Operating Partnership L.P., a division of Martin Midstream Partners.
According to Freed, the skipper of the ship had over 20 years of expertise in the maritime industry.
Along with members of the Texas Department of Transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Galveston police and fire departments, emergency management officials and state officials have also responded to the scene.
Vacuum gas oil, which may be used to create transportation fuels and other byproducts, was spilt during the collision, according to the Galveston Office of Emergency Management. The government reported that approximately 6 1/2 miles of the Intracoastal canal had been closed and that the presence of oil in the water had been visually verified. In response to the spill, the U.S. Coast Guard will assess its scope and begin “containment and cleanup procedures,” according to authorities.
According to officials, the barge can hold approximately 30,000 gallons of water. Freed stated that a “limited amount of product” flowed into the waterway, though it is unclear how much has gone out.
“At this time, there is no product leaking from the barge,” Freed stated.
Galveston officials posted on social media that the incident also caused a brief power outage on Pelican Island. According to officials, secondary power has been restored.
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy advised bridge operators not to postpone safety evaluations in remarks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, following her hearing before the House Transportation Committee regarding the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“Don’t wait,” Homendy said. “If you have such a bridge, look at how that traffic has changed over time. Make sure you have the right protections in place.”
The bridge links Galveston, Texas, with the village of Pelican Island, which has 9,000 residents. Texas A&M University in Galveston is located on Pelican Island as well.
According to officials, Texas Department of Transportation experts will “inspect the roadway and determine if there is damage.” Until it is judged safe to use, the bridge will stay closed.
The barge stays where it was when it collided. According to Freed, a salvage business has been hired by Martin Midstream Partners to help remove the barge from the region.
Six construction workers were killed and a huge portion of the Key Bridge collapsed after a vessel crashed into it nearly seven weeks ago at the Port of Baltimore.
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