The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) — The Coast Guard continues to inspect and oversee repairs to a dredging vessel that ran aground near South Padre Island, Monday.
Watchstanders at Marine Safety Detachment Brownsville received a report Thursday that the Texas, a 305-foot cutter suction dredge vessel, ran aground at the Brownsville-Santiago Pass south jetty during inclement weather. The hull of the dredge suffered severe damage, but was removed from the jetty and towed to Port Isabel. The crew of the Texas took action to reduce the risk of pollution by transferring fuel from the damaged tank to undamaged tanks.
The vessel owners, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, continue working with Coast Guard inspectors to conduct a damage survey and make repairs.
The dredge is under contract with the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct dredging in the Brownsville Ship Channel and assist in the renourishment of South Padre Island beaches.
“We are reviewing all of the evidence to determine if negligence was involved in the incident,” said Lt. Yancee McLemore, investigating officer at Sector Corpus Christi.
The investigation into the incident is on-going.
