Working Conditions Aboard the Genesis-River

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its comprehensive report regarding the May 10, 2019, collision involving the 'Genesis River' and a tank barge in the Lower Houston Ship Channel. This incident resulted in a significant spill of 11,000 barrels of reformate. During the event, the 'Genesis River' was preparing to depart from Houston with two pilots onboard. Upon their boarding, the first pilot advised the crew to place both radars on standby and deactivate the ECDIS terminals to eliminate distracting proximity alarms that could not be turned off. The pilots opted for visual navigation down the channel, supported by a portable pilot unit (PPU). VDR data revealed that the pilots discussed the vessel's limited rudder capabilities, stating it required considerable maneuvering effort to navigate effectively. The second pilot, assuming control, called for the vessel to reach full sea speed, a standard procedure for vessels once they enter the Lower Houston Ship Channel, as noted by the NTSB. The 'Genesis River' gradually increased its speed to 12 knots. Shortly after passing the inbound LPG tanker 'BW Oak' at the Bayport Flare, the 'Genesis River' unexpectedly veered to port, steering directly towards the oncoming tug 'Voyager' and its tow, which comprised two tank barges filled with reformate. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the second pilot directed the 'Voyager' bridge team to turn to port and cross over to the west side of the channel, a maneuver contrary to established COLREGS guidelines. The 'Voyager' complied, pivoting hard to port at full speed. As the 'Genesis River' navigated into the barge lane along the east bank, it struck bottom, as recounted by the first pilot. Subsequently, the vessel pivoted back to starboard and entered the mid-channel, where it collided with the maneuvering 'Voyager'. The pilot’s evasive actions proved futile as impact became unavoidable; thus, he ordered the vessel to direct its bow towards the barges, instead of the towboat. Just before impact, the captain of the 'Genesis River' commanded full astern. The unique vertical, bulbless 'Sea Arrow' bow design of the tanker penetrated the starboard and port tanks of the barges, leading to the capsizing of one barge and severing both from the towboat. Thankfully, there were no injuries; however, a significant environmental incident ensued with the release of approximately 11,000 barrels of reformate into the water. The U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a hydrodynamic analysis of the incident, evaluating 'Genesis River's' maneuverability as it passed by 'BW Oak' in shallow waters. The findings confirmed that while the vessel complied with all relevant IMO standards, the pilot's choice to operate at 'sea speed' within a shallow, confined channel may have contributed to compromised path stability. Additionally, it was noted that the vessel's trim at an even keel may have hindered its maneuverability, suggesting that a stern-trimmed position could have enhanced handling. The NTSB report concluded, 'By transiting the Genesis River at sea speed in Nav. Full mode, with the limitations imposed by this condition, Pilot 2 had little room for error and no options to recover once control was lost. Transiting in maneuvering mode at a speed of half ahead (approximately 10.2 knots) would have delayed arrival at Bolivar Roads by only 25 minutes.' Furthermore, the report indicated that the location of the 'Genesis River' when passing the 'BW Oak' could have played a role in the loss of control, particularly at the Bayport Flare where the east-side bank constricts the channel. The disabled radar and ECDIS systems were assessed as unlikely contributors to the collision, according to the NTSB.

In a significant development regarding the Houston Ship Channel oil spill, K Line has placed the blame squarely on the tanker 'Genesis River.' This incident occurred on May 10, 2019, when the vessel collided with two barges, resulting in a massive release of thousands of barrels of gasoline into the bay. The collision caused one barge to capsize and inflicted damage on the other, leading to further leaks in the waterway. K Line Energy Ship Management has filed a formal complaint in the federal court in Galveston, alleging that the 'Genesis River' was compelled to alter its course erratically, contributing to the accident. This lawsuit follows an earlier claim by Kirby Inland Marine, which sought reparations against K Line and FPG in June. Kirby's lawsuit asserts that 'Genesis River' shifted direction twice prior to crashing into a Kirby-owned tugboat and its barges, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of reformate. Kirby Inland Marine's initial legal action outlines claims for damages resulting from the collision, the ensuing capsizing, and the costly cleanup efforts. As the case unfolds, the maritime community is closely monitoring the implications of this incident on marine safety regulations and vessel operations in busy waterways.

On May 15, the Houston Ship Channel reopened to two-way navigation after the successful removal of two gasoline barges that had encountered significant damage. The barges involved were the ‘Kirby 3001ST’, which sustained heavy damage, and the ‘MMI 3041’, which capsized and came to rest upside down. This incident resulted in an estimated 11,280 barrels of gasoline leaking into the channel near Bayport, Texas. Salvage operations saw the 'Kirby 3001ST' pumped out by May 14, with the Bayport Channel Collision Response team completing the barge removals by midday on the reopening day. The strategy chosen for the 'MMI 3041' involved towing the capsized vessel away instead of draining its fuel tanks, which notably expedited the reopening process by approximately two days. By noon (5 p.m. GMT) on reopening day, 41 vessels were queued to enter the critical 53-mile waterway, which links Houston and Texas City’s refining facilities to the Gulf of Mexico. This was an increase from 33 ships earlier that morning, with 24 vessels also waiting to depart in the afternoon. The incident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, the container ship 'Genesis River' remained docked at the Bayport Container Terminal.