The linked command eliminates the last barge from below the San Jacinto Bridge (Screen grab from USCG video clip
The Coast Guard the other day opened up the Houston Ship Channel at the I-10 San Jacinto River Bridge near Channelview, Texas, however with limitations, and also claimed that it remains to collaborate with the Texas Department of Transportation as it performs repair services of the bridge that impact the navigational safety and security of the river.
The bridge was harmed in an occurrence that started 12:05 a.m., September 20 when USCG Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders got a record that 9 barges had actually escaped from their moorings at the San Jacinto River Fleet, north of the bridge.
An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and also a Station Houston 29-foot Response Boat-Small boatcrew were drawn away to the scene.
Sector Houston-Galveston Vessel Traffic Service had actually currently put on hold vessel activity under the I-10 bridge at 7:20 p.m. the previous day because of solid currents.
A unified command was established in feedback to the occurrence, including the Coast Guard, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas General Land Office, and also Canal Barge Company.
Two of the 9 barges had actually come to be lodged under the bridge. By the mid-day of September 20, night 6 of the others were referred to as “corralled for transport to fleet areas,” with the continuing to be barge being beached on a tidal flat north of the bridge.
On September 22, the Coast Guard launched video clip revealing the elimination of the secondly of both barges that had actually obtained wedged under the bridge being launched.
As of 11.49 a.m. today, the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston developed a security area on the San Jacinto River from the southerly end of Southwest Shipyard, expanding north of the I-10 bridge to Buoy 4. Transiting the safety and security area is open to minimal vessel website traffic with the adhering to limitations:
- Only light watercrafts and also solitary barge tows might transportation.
- Transit just throughout daytime hrs (daybreak to sundown).
- No conference or overtaking.
All vessels have to sign in and also out with Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston at the very least 15 mins before obtaining underway.
Sector Houston-Galveston Waterways Management Division will certainly provide future updates by means of Marine Safety Information Bulletins and also program notification to sailors. Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston will certainly guide short-term closures of the river to sustain salvage and also over-water bridge repair services.
