Fatal Tragedy Strikes as Towboat Capsizes in Houston Ship Channel
On July 19th, 2024, the Houston Ship Channel witnessed a tragic incident as the 55-foot towboat Miss Peggy capsized and sank, leading to the death of one crewmember. The incident, occurring near the Lynchburg Ferry crossing at approximately 2 PM, prompted a rapid and extensive multi-agency rescue operation.
The swift response of several “Good Samaritan” boats in the vicinity was crucial in the immediate aftermath. These civilian vessels successfully rescued four of the five crewmembers from the water.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Houston Police, spearheaded the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing crewmember. Law enforcement divers conducted a thorough subsurface search, covering a wide area over the course of more than 30 hours.
After exhaustive effort, the body of the missing crewmember was recovered. The focus then shifted to salvaging the towboat, which was successfully raised and righted over the weekend using a large crane barge.
Coast Guard Commander Michael Cortese expressed his gratitude to the civilian responders: “I’d like to thank the Good Samaritans that sprang into action when the incident happened. They’re really the lifesavers that get the credit for saving those four mariners.”
Investigating the Incident
Preliminary investigations, based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and eyewitness accounts, suggest that the Miss Peggy might have been involved in a collision with the 63,000 dwt (dead weight tonnage, or a measure of a vessel’s cargo capacity) merchant bulker Yangze 7 at the time of the capsizing. The merchant vessel, still moored at a coal terminal in Houston as of Monday, is the primary focus of the ongoing investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Background on Miss Peggy
Built in 1976, Miss Peggy was a 55-foot inland towboat operated by local fleeting and shift boat company Houston Fleeting Services on the Houston Ship Channel. Over the decades, she had become a familiar and
welcome sight in the channel, making her loss all the more tragic.
While the swift action of rescuers saved lives, the loss of one crewmember is a haunting reminder of the dangers faced by those who work on the water.
We 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.
8/2/2024
Image Credit: Port of Houston, U.S. Coast Guard
Watch the U.S. Coast Guard Video of the Miss Peggy capsizing here.
