Tanker Vessel Collides with Jack-Up Drilling Rig in Gulf of Mexico

Rowan EXL-1, a jackup drilling rig, and the 750-foot tanker vessel FR8 Pride collided near Port Aransas.

Port of Corpus Christi operations director Tony Alejandro stated that the ship lost power and crashed into a rig being positioned by tugboats to enter the Corpus Christi ship channel. Tracking data indicates the FR8 Pride may have been traveling at around 8.8 knots at the time of the incident.

The tanker experienced some damage, there was flooding in a forward ballast space, but the damage was minor and the flooding was quickly controlled. The ship was grounded two miles offshore.

The drill rig suffered significant damage from the collision. There was a hydraulic oil leak from a damaged crane, but the situation was soon stabilized.

Corpus Christi operations director said that no one was injured.

The Coast Guard managed to respond to the accident, and their teams will inspect and investigate the cause of the collision.

So far, significant pollution has not been reported, and the Aransas Pass Channel remains open to traffic.

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World Maritime News Staff, May 3, 2012; Image: Keppel Corp