Passenger Boat & Tanker Collision; Death & Injuries Reported

On Saturday, July 13, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi reported a collision between a commercial tanker and a small passenger boat near Port Aransas, Texas.

At approximately 5:28 AM local time, Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a call on channel 16 from an individual, reporting a collision between a tanker and a small leisure boat with four passengers in the Port Aransas Pass area of Texas.

The Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi quickly launched a rescue operation, deploying an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to rescue the passengers. Additionally, an emergency response boat from Coast Guard Station Port Aransas was sent to locate the passengers.

A pilot boat from Port Aransas, along with a good Samaritan, rescued three passengers from the water. Tragically, one passenger was reported deceased, while the other two were transferred for emergency medical assistance.

The search and rescue operation for the fourth and last missing passenger continued on Saturday and Sunday, involving the Coast Guard of Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, and Cutter Manta. Assistance also came from the Port of Corpus Christi Police Department, Aransas Pass Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, including its Parks & Wildlife Division.

The search operation was suspended on Sunday afternoon by the U.S. Coast Guard after covering more than 127 square miles over approximately 44 hours. Authorities have not yet disclosed the names of the vessels involved in the collision.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the collision between the tanker and the boat.