Diesel spill closes section of Houston Ship Channel

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

(HOUSTON) — A small section of the Upper Houston Ship Channel was closed Tuesday morning after a report of 1,000 gallons of diesel entered Greens Bayou from a cement facility.

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watch standers received the initial report at 7:13 a.m. of a diesel storage tank overflowing and entering the waterway.

To facilitate spill assessment and response operations, the captain of the port established a safety zone at 7:57 a.m., closing the Houston Ship Channel where it intersects Greens Bayou.

Coast Guard incident management personnel are on scene with Garner Environmental, who has been contracted by South Central Cement to conduct cleanup operations.

The diesel release was secured and the spill has been contained using boom.

By Professional Mariner Staff