Barges Collide in Corpus Christi Ship Channel

A gash in the hull of a barge is the result of the collision.

U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors are investigating and monitoring the repair of two barges that collided early Tuesday morning in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel near Ingleside. 

At approximately 2 a.m., the captain of the tugboat Yellowfin called Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, reporting that barges pushed by the tugboats Yellowfin and Capt. Warren collided in the ship channel.

“We are very fortunate that there were no injuries to the crew of both vessels and averted a large pollution incident,” stated Cmdr. Jalyn Stineman, the prevention officer of Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. “We have highly trained marine inspectors monitoring the repair process of both barges.”

The Yellowfin barge was loaded with about 4.2 million gallons of gas oil. The Capt. Warren’s barges were empty. There are no reports of personal injury or marine pollution.

The Capt. Warren was inbound while the Yellowfin was heading outbound when the collision occurred. 

The cause of the marine casualty is currently under investigation.