A new video depicts a previously unreported 2020 collision between an OSV and a U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender in Sabine Pass.
More specifically, on October 11, 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Harry Claiborne transited from Galveston to Sabine Pass, where its crew would check reset buoys along the channel.
Claiborne was working on Buoy 27 near the channel entrance, and it was in DP stationkeeping mode with the bow facing outbound.
The crew had the buoy up on deck, hauling in on its chain to find out the location of its sinker.
The OSV Botruc 33 was outbound in the channel, heading to service an offshore platform. The captain was at the helm and contacted Harry Claiborne over VHF to make passing arrangements, suggesting to overtake on Claiborne’s starboard side.
Given the Claiborne’s location this would put Botruc 33 on the outside of the shipping channel, nearer to the bank.
Claiborne’s commanding officer answered the call and, after consulting with his bridge team, who advised against it, he agreed to Botruc 33’s proposed passing arrangement.
Shortly after, a crewmember on deck radioed to warn that collision was about to take place. The CO warned the crew to brace for impact and began to sound five short in warning. Within seconds, Botruc 33 struck Harry Claiborne’s stern.
