TEXAS CITY, Texas — Officials say a barge carrying heavy crude oil has collided with another ship in the Texas City ship channel and is leaking oil.
Texas City Homeland Security director Bruce Clawson told The Galveston County Daily News that the ships collided around 2:30 p.m.
Clawson said the barge was carrying about 22,000 gallons of bunker oil, but it was unclear how much had leaked into Galveston Bay. Clawson said the ship that collided with the barge had left the area and had not been located.
He said two crew members on the barge were treated for exposure because the oil contains high amounts of hydrogen sulfide.
The city fire department's hazardous materials team was on the scene and the U.S. Coast Guard was taking command.