Tug Grounds Near Corpus Christi After Reported Collision with Bulk Carrier

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a tug that ran aground near Corpus Christi, Texas, reportedly following a collision with a bulk carrier.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center watchstanders received a call at 4 p.m. Sunday, from the agent of G&H Towing stating that the tug Mark E. Keubler had run aground outside the channel near the South Texas Gateway refinery and was taking on water.

Watchstanders issued a safety marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Port Aransas 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew to assist with de-watering.

The Coast Guard’s 8th District reports that before the grounding there was reportedly a collision between the tug and the bulk carrier Nisalah.

Photos of the Mark E. Kuebler show its mast collapsed.

Responders have not observed any signs of pollution and there are no reported injuries.

The Coast Guard currently has pollution responders on scene monitoring salvage operations.

AIS data on Monday showed the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/V Nisalah is moored in Ingleside, Texas at the Port of Corpus Christi.