A 24 foot recreational boat southbound in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway struck and was capsized by a northbound commercial barge bring pushed by a tug boat.  The collision occurred between State Mile Markers 485 and 486, just west of Charlie's Bait Camp. 
The tug boat captain explained that he was northbound at 5 mph and saw the recreational boat's red and green navigation lights around 5:30 am.  He guessed the recreational boat was heading towards him while following the bank.  At 100 yards, the tug was allegedly over to port as far as possible.  The tug captain turned the spotlight on and then off.  Then according to the tugboat captain, the recreational boat turned towards the bank.  At 50-75 yards. the recreational boat allegedly made a hard starboard turn.  The tug and barge were in the middle to north side of the Intracoastal Waterway.  "I thought he was turning around.  He was right there.  I sat down on the horn [sic] and threw it in reverse," explained the tug captain.  He explained the very front of the barge pushed the recreational boat and flipped it down to starboard.  The tug boat captain soon thereafter saw the recreational captain climb onto the capsized boat.  He was recovered and refused medical attention.

The tug is operated by Third Coast Towing LLC.  The tugboat captain's Master Towing License was viewed onboard.  The tug captain reported 21 years of experience; 13 years on the tug.

The recreational boat captain reported he was alone, putting down the north side of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at 3-4 mph, navigating with his GPS.  He saw the green and red lights on the tug.  He explained he did not see the barge lights, did not hear her horn, but did see her spotlight.  Then they collided.  He reported that his port side went down, then the boat went up and over.  He then jumped out, seeing the white navigation light on his motor as he jumped.  He then grabbed the gunwhale and crawled up onto the capsized hull.  He reported the tug was in the center to north side of the channel during the collision.  "It's just one of those things," he reported.  He stressed he did not see the lights on the front of the barge.  He self-reported having worn his PFD and safety lanyard during the collision.

Chief Warrant Officer and PO2 of USCG MSD Victoria Texas came aboard and inspected.  They discovered a small amount of gasoline had leaked from the recreational vessel; it had dispersed.  No damage was noted on the tug or barge.  The barge was transporting crude oil from Ingleside to Texas City.  The Texas General Land Office was notified.  The barge was sent on its way.

The recreational boat was uprighted by TowBoat US based in Port O'Connor, which reporting charging $2,400 for its salvage services.  The boat was placed onto the owner's trailer.

The boat was found and photographed initially in its capsized position.  Color digital photographs were also taken later of the boat on the trailer.  The visible damage was to the fiberglass gunwhale area of the forward port side and port quarter.  The port side gunwhale shows a noncontinuous wave in it, perhaps indicating internal structural damage.  The fiberglass shows two port side impact points.

No signs of drugs or alcohol were noted in on-site interviews with either operator, although the investigator was not notified of the incident 3 hours and 20 minutes after it had occurred.  Investigator travel time to site was 1 hour and 10 minutes.

END OF REPORT

Seadrift                      