Houston Ship Channel reopens after shelter in place near Pasadena, Texas

TX, UNITED STATES

07.25.2016

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Nease 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8 PADET Houston

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard reopened the Houston Ship Channel at 6:35 p.m., after a brief closure from a sulfur dioxide release and shelter in place in Galena Park Wednesday afternoon.

At about 3:30 p.m., the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service received notification from Harris County Office of Emergency Management personnel that a shelter in place was issued for the city of Galena Park due to a sulfur dioxide leak at the Pasadena Refinery.

The VTS closed the ship channel at 4:04 p.m., extending a half-mile on either side of the Washburn Tunnel.

The leak was secured by the Pasadena Refinery around 5:30 p.m. The Houston Port Authority fire-boat crew monitored the air for sulfur dioxide with negative results.

At around 6 p.m., the shelter in place was lifted by the City of Galena Park emergency coordinator.

The cause of the leak is under investigation.

• Date Taken: 07.25.2016
• Date Posted: 07.25.2016 21:42
• Photo ID: 2743569
• VIRIN: 160725-G-XX999-001
• Resolution: 1280x720
• Size: 1.08 MB
• Location: TX, US