For the second time in a week, two ships collided in the Houston Ship Channel. The most recent collision, which happened Monday in foggy conditions, led to a spilling of a gasoline additive and a shelter-in-place order for 300 residents near where the accident occurred.
The 600-foot chemical tanker Carla Maersk and 623-foot bulk carrier Conti Peridot collided about 12:30 p.m. near Morgan’s Point. The collision ruptured three of the Carla Maersk’s port tanks, which lead to a leak of some of the vessel’s 216,000 barrels of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, or MTBE.
“This chemical, when it’s in liquid form will float on water and is toxic to both people and wildlife – you will smell this chemical long before you reach toxic levels and we encourage anyone on the water to stay away from areas where you can smell this,” U.S. Coast Guard officials said.
The flammable liquid can cause dizziness and suffocation with prolonged exposure, and two dock workers were taken to the hospital after being overcome by fumes.
The leak was contained within a few hours, but it wasn’t yet known how much of the cargo spilled into the channel.
The channel was closed to traffic for three days following the accident, finally reopening Thursday.
The Houston Ship Channel connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of Houston, which is home to the nation’s largest and one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes. About 70 ships travel the channel daily as well as 300 to 400 tugs and barges.
Legal Help For Workers After Maritime Injuries
As was evident in this case, ship accidents can affect a wide range of maritime workers, from the seamen on the vessel to the workers at the dock who were overcome by fumes from the spill.
If you were injured while working aboard a vessel, you may be entitled to maintenance and cure benefits under the Jones Act. Injured dock workers may be entitled to benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.
Toxic exposure can cause both short- and long-term medical problems. If you were affected by exposure to toxic liquids or gases during your work on a vessel or in a port, the maritime lawyers at Maintenance and Cure can help explain your rights and pursue compensation for your injuries.
With more than 100 years of combined experience, we’ve helped hundreds of clients over the years to recover millions of dollars under the general maritime laws, the Jones Act and the LHWCA. Contact us today to set up a free consultation.
