The U.S. Coast Guard arrived in Houston around 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2 in response to a major collision between tankers that were pushing barges into the Houston Ship Channel. It has been reported that the unloaded 800-foot tanker known as the Minerva Maya, sustained major damage to its port bow after slamming into five barges being pushed by the M.L. Crochet. All vessels were secured.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
The collision comes one week after an 18-wheeler carrying flammable items crashed into a ship channel train resulting in the closure of two main freeways. Residents near the ship channel fear that more accidents will happen as the expansion of the Panama Canal continues to bring more cargo through the Port of Houston.
