Tragedy on the Water: Towboat Capsizes in Houston Ship Channel, One Crew Member Lost
In a tragic incident on the afternoon of July 19, 2024 at approximately 2 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Houston-Galveston was alerted by the Vessel Traffic Service of a towboat that had capsized and sunk near the Lynchburg Ferry Landing. The towboat in question was the M/V Miss Peggy, owned by Houston Fleeting Services, a subsidiary of Ingram Marine Group.
The M/V Miss Peggy, a twin-screw towboat measuring 55 by 20.4 feet, was traveling inbound and light on the eastern side of the ship channel when the incident occurred. As the towboat navigated through the busy waterway, two large vessels—a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker named M/V Silvio and a bulk carrier called Yangze 7—passed one another nearby. Although details remain under investigation, some bystanders and AIS data suggest that the M/V Miss Peggy may have collided with one of the larger vessels during the pass.
Aboard the M/V Miss Peggy were five crew members. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, a nearby tugboat, the M/V George M. from G&H Towing, quickly responded to the distress call, demonstrating true maritime solidarity. The crew of the M/V George M. managed to rescue four of the Miss Peggy‘s crew members, but sadly, one deckhand, Mr. Aquarius Lowman, was missing.
For the next 32 hours, the Coast Guard, along with several other agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, and Texas Parks and Wildlife, launched a thorough search and rescue operation. Sadly, Lowman’s body recovered the evening of July 20.
In a statement, Ingram Marine Group expressed profound gratitude to the crew of the M/V George and extended their condolences to Lowman’s family and friends.
“Our strongest thoughts and prayers go out to the family, loved ones, and all those involved in this tragic incident,” said Capt. Keith Donohue, commander of U.S Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston.
He also commended the remarkable cooperation between the various agencies involved in the search and rescue effort.
The surrounding waters were initially closed to navigation during the search, and restrictions remained in place while salvage operations were underway. By July 21, the M/V Miss Peggy had been raised and removed from the channel, allowing for the resumption of normal traffic.
As the maritime industry mourns this loss, questions remain regarding the circumstances that led to the capsizing of the M/V Miss Peggy. The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting an active investigation, with Ingram Marine Group pledging full cooperation.
“We have a lot of questions based on publicly available information, but we can’t comment on an active investigation,” the company representative stated.
The maritime industry is no stranger to risk, but every incident like this serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by those who work on the water. As the investigation continues, the memory of Mr. Aquarius Lowman, and the bravery of all involved, will shape the future of marine safety protocols, and we at Herd Law Firm hoping someday all of us, working together, can prevent these tragedies from happening again.
At the Herd Law Firm are proud to fight for seamen, maritime workers and passengers in all types of personal injury and death claims. As maritime personal injury attorneys located in northwest Houston, we never waver in our commitment to help these maritime workers, passengers, and their families when they are injured or mistreated.
Watch video here.
8/21/2024
Photo Credit: Houston Ship Channel
