Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston say they were notified of the collision by a National Response Center report at approximately 4:30am, stating that the Chem Sea, a 385-foot tanker, and the Bow Kiso, a 557-foot tanker, had collided while headed to Houston.
The Bow Kiso suffered a fuel leak in their engine room, but was able to patch the leak and pump the remainder of the fuel into an auxiliary tank.
The Coast Guard launched crews aboard an HU-25 Falcon jet from Air Station Corpus Christi and an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assess the situation. Marine Safety Unit Texas City will board both vessels to conduct damage assessments and investigate the cause of the accident.
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