At 0408 local time on March 15, 2019, the towing vessel Dixie Vandal, pushing a partially loaded fuel barge upbound through the Houston Ship Channel, struck the towing vessel Trinity and one of its barges, which were moored and preparing to discharge cargo at the Kinder Morgan Pasadena Liquids Terminal in Pasadena, Texas. The contact caused the Trinity and its tow to shift about 100 feet upriver, breaking the cargo hoses and mooring lines and damaging the facility. About a half-gallon of jet fuel discharged into the channel. No injuries were reported by the crew of five aboard the Dixie Vandal nor by the Trinity​'s crew of four. Damage to the facility and barges amounted to $630,230.

​​The probable cause of the collision of the Dixie Vandal’s tow with the moored Trinity and tow was the fatigued pilot falling asleep near the end of his 12-hour watch while maneuvering in the Houston Ship Channel, resulting in the loss of control of the vessel. Contributing to the pilot’s fatigue was the extended length of duty through the night and early morning hours and his use of an over-the-counter antihistamine.

​​Managing Crew Work/Rest Hours

Companies should monitor the watch schedules of their crews to ensure that they are properly rested and afforded proper work/rest schedules. Crewmembers should be encouraged to request assistance from other crewmembers if they feel fatigued. ​