Gallery: Houston Ship Channel Closes amid MTBE Spill

A 600-foot chemical tanker Carla Maersk and the Conti Peridot, a 623-foot bulk carrier collided on Monday at around 12:40 p.m at Morgan’s Point on the Houston Ship Channel, the US Coast Guard informed.

Three of the Carla Maersk’s port tanks were ruptured in the collision resulting in a spill of an unknown quantity of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE).

The chemical tanker was carrying approximately 216,000 barrels of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether prior to the collision.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port ordered closure of the Houston Ship Channel between light 86 and Morgan’s Point and initiated a shelter and place of the area surrounding Morgan’s Point and the Barbour’s Cut terminal.

An incident command post has been established at the City of La Porte Emergency Operations Center to further response efforts. The unified command has determined that the Barbours Cut Terminal will not open as normally scheduled at 7 a.m. Tuesday, as a precautionary measure.

“Air quality monitoring has determined that fumes are present, but they are below toxic levels. Residents in the affected areas are urged to monitor local emergency notification systems (Cities of Baytown, La Porte, Morgan’s Point), for information on local impacts and instruction. Air monitoring is currently taking place throughout the area and is being facilitated by local jurisdictions,” the USCG said in an update.

The channel remains closed to all traffic from light 86 to the Fred Hartman Bridge.

According to the latest update, there were 26 ships waiting to come inbound to Houston and 14 waiting to leave.

The Coast Guard said it was working to help ensure that the remaining product in the ship is safely secured in order to begin reopening the ship channel.

A safety zone has been established from the Fred Hartman Bridge to light 86 on the Houston Ship Channel and includes Goose Creek, Tabbs Bay, Cedar Bayou Channel and Barbours Cut.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Images: USCG