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A Houston port was closed to marine traffic after a barge slammed into a tower. The maritime accident took place at approximately 6:00 AM on Sunday morning, October 3, 2010, in the Houston Ship Channel.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a barge was being pushed by the tow boat Safety Quest when it slammed into a tower supporting a high-voltage electric transmission line on the channel at Baytown. The Safety Quest was pushing three barges loaded with scarp metal at the time of the accident.
It was unclear as to whether anyone was seriously inured in the accident. However, the seafarers were transported to another vessel.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the collision left the tower threatening to topple into the channel and that the tower remained upright only by the support of one of the barges.
The channel is considered the lifeline to the Port of Houston, which is the nation's leader in foreign waterborne tonnage and imports. It is estimated that the closure could result in $322 million in losses per day the channel is shutdown.
The Houston Ship Channel maritime accident is still under investigation by local authorities. It was unclear as to what caused the barge to crash into the tower.
