Galveston: One dead after fishing boat and Odfjell tanker collide

The stern of the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride appears above the waterline beside the vessel’s inflatable life raft after a collision near the Galveston jetties in Galveston, Texas, Jan 15, 2020. The vessel has since been removed from the edge of Galveson Bay(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Galveston)

The Coast Guard last night reported that it was searching for two fishermen from the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride that capsized after a collision near the Galveston jetties in Galveston, Texas, Tuesday.

At 3:35 p.m., Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston watchstanders were notified of four people in the water after a collision between the fishing vessel and the 600-foot chemical tanker Bow Fortune near the Galveston jetties.

Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew.

Two of the fishermen were pulled from the water by the crew of a good Samaritan vessel and the RB-M boat crew. Both were transferred to emergency medical services personnel.

According to local media reports, one person was declared dead Tuesday before 6 p.m.

The search for the remaining two fishermen is ongoing. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

ODFJELL STATEMENT

The chemical tanker’s owner, Bergen, Norway, headquartered Odfjell, issued this statement:

At 15:55 local time Tuesday January 14, our chemical tanker Bow Fortune reported that it had made contact with a fishing boat in Galveston Bay entrance. At the time of the incident, Bow Fortune was inbound and under pilotage as first vessel in a convoy. At the time of the incident, there was heavy fog in the area.

Tragically, we have received reports that one of the four crew members onboard the fishing boat has lost his life. We are saddened by this information, and wish to express our heartfelt condolences to his family. We are also deeply concerned about the reports that two of the crew members on the fishing boat are still missing. One crew member is reported rescued.

Odfjell takes this matter very seriously. Together with the P&I club Gard, we cooperate fully with U.S. authorities to ensure that we initiate all necessary actions.

Bow Fortune is currently moored in Galveston. The crew onboard is safe and accounted for. Bow Fortune’s integrity is intact and there is no pollution stemming from the ship.

The cause of the collision will be subject to investigation. Odfjell will fully support and contribute to this investigation.