Tug grounds after collision near Corpus Christi refinery

(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) — The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a tugboat that ran aground near the South Texas Gateway refinery in Corpus Christi on Monday.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watch standers received a call at 4 p.m. Sunday from the agent of G&H Towing stating that the tug Mark E. Kuebler had ran aground outside the channel near the South Texas Gateway refinery and was taking on water.

The tugboat Mark E. Kuebler aground on a shoal Sunday in Corpus Christi, Texas. U.S. Coast Guard photo

Watch standers issued a safety marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Port Aransas 45-foot response boat-medium crew to assist with dewatering.

Before running aground there was reportedly a collision between Mark E. Kuebler and the bulk carrier Nisalah. Responders did not observe any signs of pollution and there were no reported injuries.

The Coast Guard currently has pollution responders on scene monitoring salvage operations.

– U.S. Coast Guard

By Rich Miller