EPA crews removed diesel fuel that leaked into Corpus Christi Bay after a boat fire at the municipal marina on Sunday afternoon.
Around 12:30 p.m., the Corpus Christi Fire Department and the Port of Corpus Christi responded to a fire on a shrimp boat moored at the dock on L-shaped Coopers Alley.
According to a press release, firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire, and booms were immediately installed around the vessel. The ship then began to sink, causing diesel fuel to seep into the waters of the bay.
The ship’s owner estimated that there were about 200 gallons of diesel fuel on board, but officials do not know how much oil leaked into the bay, according to a press release.
EnviroServe, a company providing 24/7 emergency response to environmental issues, has been awarded a contract by the boat owner to deploy an additional boom and provide cleaning services, including suction of diesel fuel from the surface of the water.
To improve fuel collection, the Texas Land Office installed an additional boom in the affected area.
Due to a strong wind from the southeast, part of the leaked diesel fuel migrated north along the bulkheads of the marina, but was detained by booms and removed from the water.
The cleanup operations were completed around 21:00. All remaining diesel fuel in the scuttled vessel’s fuel tank was removed, and all fuel found in the area contained in booms was removed from the water.
Environmental teams were due to return to the site on Monday morning to determine if additional cleanup was needed. A city spokesman said on Monday it was unclear if additional cleaning was carried out.
The partially sunken ship will be recovered from the bay in the coming days.
The L-Head section near the scene is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
There are currently no reports of effects on marine animals or other wildlife. No injuries were reported.
The US Coast Guard and Fire Department are investigating the fire.
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