Thousands of pounds of oil–far more than previously estimated–spilled along 22 miles of the Texas coast after a barge collided with a ship last month, according to a recent report published by the Houston Chronicle.
A barge carrying heavy marine fuel oil collided with another ship in the Houston Ship Channel near Galveston on March 22, dispersing more than 200,000 pounds of oiled sand and debris. Original reports documented as much as 168,000 gallons of thick oil flowed into the water.
In the days following the collision, the Coast Guard completely closed the channel, one of the busiest shipping routes in the country. Consequently, local fishing shops and seafood restaurants have felt the negative economic effects since the closure of the Texas City dike, msnbc previously reported.
Additionally, multiple species of birds, including ducks, herrings, herons, and pelicans, were affected by the spill. The Coast Guard last week recovered almost 330 oiled birds, most of which were dead, according to an article published by The Texas Tribune.
Michele Richinick