Bayport Channel Collision and Oil Spill

Texas Oil Spill Attorneys

Williamson & Rusnak has years of experience representing those harmed by oil spills and their aftermath.  Jimmy Williamson was honored to be selected as one of the 10 lawyers in the United States to try the Phase I liability trial for plaintiffs in the BP Oil Spill case.  If you were one of the tens of thousands of residents working or living in the Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, or Texas, then you know the negative economic impact an oil spill can leave on a region.

The Bayport Channel Collision Specifics

On May 10, 2019, in the Houston Ship Channel, a tug boat pushing two barges near Bayport collided with a 755-foot tanker, Genesis River, that was carrying liquefied natural gas.  One barge capsized and the other was damaged, leaking a gasoline product called “reformate, a highly flammable chemical that’s mixed with gasoline and that can have high concentrations of the known carcinogen benzene.

Experts estimate that more than 11,000 barrels (or 470,000 gallons) spilled into the channel and onto the shorelines following this latest spill.

Sound Familiar?

Unfortunately, this spill was not the first at the port in recent years.

In March 2014, a collision caused a spill of 168,000 gallons of bunker fuel oil and closed the channel. Williamson & Rusnak represented those harmed by this oil spill (Galveston Bay Oil Spill).

Again, in 2015, another collision caused approximately 88,000 gallons of a hazardous gasoline additive to spill into the channel.

Another concern for this area was a fire at a chemical plant along the channel in March 2014 that released chemicals into the air.

How Bad Was the May 2019 Spill?

The environmental and economic impact from the May 2019 collision and spill is still unknown.  More than 11,000 barrels (or 470,000 gallons) spilled into the channel and onto the shorelines.  A fish kill was discovered two days after the spill and people were warned not to consume shellfish from Galveston Bay. Additionally, the Texas General Land Office’s oil spill prevention program received reports of dead fish and wildlife near the source of the spill, in Kemah and along the west shoreline of Galveston Bay.  Ongoing damage to the ecosystem is still a concern.

What Can I Do If My Property Was Damaged By The Channel Collision and Oil Spill?

If your property has been compromised due to an oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel or Galveston Bay, contact Williamson & Rusnak. We have hands-on knowledge of the oil spill, its effects on the people who live and work in the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay and surrounding coastal areas damaged by the spill, and know what it takes to get the compensation you deserve.

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Contact an attorney at our firm today to discuss your eligibility for compensation.