An estimated 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled into the water, during fuel transfer operations of a dredge at the Houston Ship Channel, near Buffalo Bayou, on Wednesday morning, the US Coast Guard informed.
The US Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report from the captain of the dredge ‘Susan Crosby’ that during a fuel transfer the vessel’s tank overflowed and released an estimated 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, just north of City Dock 45.
The source of the spill has been contained. Sector Houston-Galveston Incident Management Division has deployed absorbent boom using their oil spill response boats to help with clean up efforts.
Traffic management measures have been put in place for vessels transiting the Houston Ship Channel inbound of City Dock 20 and 45. Vessels must receive prior approval from the Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston before transiting the area.
Another diesel spill was reported earlier this week in Lousiana, after the 145-foot offshore supply vessel ‘Candy Store’ ran aground north of Monkey Island, near Cameron, due to damage to one of the vessel’s diesel tanks.