Coast Guard: Tanker, cargo ship collide in Houston Ship Channel

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
 
(HOUSTON) — The Coast Guard is responding to a collision between two motor vessels in the Houston Ship Channel north of the Texas City Dike, Tuesday morning.
 
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a report at approximately 8:08 a.m. that the Charleston, a 630-foot tanker vessel, and the Harvest Moon, a 623-foot cargo vessel, had collided.
A portion of the Houston Ship Channel from Light #28 through Light #40 is closed to traffic as a precautionary measure for the anchored ships.
Both the Houston pilots and the Texas City pilots have suspended boardings for the morning due to the current fog conditions in the Houston Ship Channel. The temporary suspension of boardings is not related to the collision.
The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
By Professional Mariner Staff