Some Houston Ship Channel traffic resumes after spill

Two-way tow traffic and one-way outbound ship traffic on the Houston Ship Channel resumed today after a collision between a tanker and a barge on 10 May led to a fuel spill that closed the waterway.

The VLGC Genesis River collided with and punctured one of two barges being pushed by a tug boat, sending an estimated 8,000-9,000 bl of reformate into the channel. The second barge was overturned and remains near the channel. Each barge carried 25,000 bl.

Agencies deployed 1,600 ft of boom to contain the spill. Clean-up will continue for several days, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said. The remaining fuel is being offloaded from the two barges.

While there may be an odor in communities near the spill site residents are not required to shelter in place.

As of 3pm ET there are 47 outbound vessels and 48 inbound vessels waiting to pass through the spill area, according to the US Coast Guard.