A barge transporting oil and a large ship collided in Galveston Bay on Saturday afternoon causing a major oil spill. The barge was carrying about 924,000 gallons of bunker oil but it is unclear at this point how much oil actually spilled into the bay.
According to the Associated Press the barge was being towed by the vessel Miss Susan and only had one tank that was punctured but that tank had a capacity of 168,000 gallons.
The oil that has spilled is not just regular oil; it is bunker oil which is very heavy and highly polluting. According to the Galveston Daily News Texas City Homeland Security director Bruce Clawson said two crew members on the barge owned by Kirby Inland Marine were treated for exposure to the oil.
Crews are on site working to control the mess. There is currently no danger to the community but parts of The Houston Ship Channel are closed and ferry service between Galveston and Port Bolivar has been suspended.