Thousands Of Gallons Of Gas Leaked Into Houston Shipping Channel After Collision

Thousands of gallons of a gasoline product have leaked into a shipping channel near Houston. The leakage occurred after a collision in the Houston Ship Channel.

The collision occurred near Bayport. A 755-foot tanker collided with a tug boat that was pushing two barges, each of which contained 25,000 gallons of a gasoline product. The tanker punctured two of the barges’ four storage tanks, which were then opened, allowing their gas products to leak out.

The gas product that leaked out is called reformate. It is colorless, flammable, and toxic to marine life. Fortunately, as a result of the accident there was no danger in the air found to the public. It is unclear what the effect of the gasoline product will be on the water. Witnesses say they could see an oily sheen on the water after the accident and that the water had a strong smell. Fortunately, no one on the ships was harmed, and the chemical may evaporate into the air. After the accident, the shipping channel was closed for a time.

Although it appears that this accident may not have a significant economic or other effect on area residents, that is not always the case when a chemical spill occurs. Oil, gas, and other chemical spills can devastate not only the area where the spill occurs, but also surrounding areas.

If you have been harmed, either physically or economically, because of a chemical spill, you should speak with an attorney. If you are in Houston, we can help. Call us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.