Multiple groundings prompt Coast Guard safety zone near Corpus Christi

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

UPDATE

(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) — The Coast Guard has lifted the safety zone in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.

Westbound only traffic is permitted Sunday from mile marker 510 through mile marker 512.

Beginning Monday morning, both eastbound and westbound traffic may transit from mile marker 510 through mile marker 512 with the following provisions:

• Vessels shall transit the area during daylight hours only when there is at least two nautical miles of visibility. 
• Barges shall transit single-wide only.
• No vessels shall meet or overtake other vessels in this area.
• Vessels shall transit at slow-bell to minimize wake.
• Vessels shall transit through the area exercising extreme caution. 

PREVIOUS REPORT

(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) — The Coast Guard established a safety zone due to multiple vessel groundings that occurred in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday afternoon.

Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watch standers received a report that one of two barges being towed by a tug began taking on water. An Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew and a Station Port Aransas 45-foot response boat-medium boat crew were launched to assess the situation.

After the barge became submerged, a second tug towing six barges struck the submerged vessel and became grounded.

The captain of the port of Corpus Christi has established a safety zone in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 510 through mile marker 512.

Additional information will be distributed via a marine safety information broadcast.

By Professional Mariner Staff