HOUSTON – The Coast Guard is responding to a downed power line in the Houston Ship Channel early Sunday morning.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston was notified at 6 a.m. that a barge had struck highline electrical tower 197 in Baytown. The tower supports power lines that cross the Houston Ship Channel.
The Coast Guard has stopped all inbound and outbound traffic to the Houston Ship Channel and established a safety zone from mile marker 105 to 124. The power to the line has been secured and poses no danger to the public. The line is owned by Centerpoint Energy.
The towing vessel Safety Quest was pushing three barges loaded with scrap metal when it allided with the Baytown highline number 197. The highline tower structure is currently being held up by one of the barges.
The crew from the T/V Safety Quest were evacuated onto another vessel and moved to a safe area. Drug and alcohol testing will be administered.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. The Coast Guard and the responsible party are working on a savage plan.
