The last two Orion Marine Group barge workers missing since an underwater propane pipeline ruptured and exploded last Friday morning in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel have been recovered.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, salvage crews located the bodies on Monday while working to recover a portion of the Waymon L. Boyd.
“We are devastated by the loss of four of our colleagues, each of whom has been a valuable part of the Orion team for many years,” Mark Stauffer, CEO, Orion Marine Group said in a news release. “Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy are extended to their families and friends, and we ask that everyone please respect their privacy as we all work to recover from this terrible incident.”
6 Orion Marine Workers Hospitalized, 5 with Burns
Nineteen workers were aboard the Waymon L. Boyd dredge vessel when it struck a submerged pipeline sometime around 8:00 a.m. on August 21st. The pipe ruptured, triggering a massive explosion that quickly engulfed the barge and spread to a nearby grain silo.
Eight Orion workers were injured in the blast, including two people treated at the scene. Six crew members were taken to local hospitals, including five later transferred to a San Antonio burn unit.
Four Orion workers were reported missing after the explosion. Search crews recovered the remains of the two other men early Saturday morning but suspended their search later that afternoon,
So far, authorities have not released the names of the victims. However, they have confirmed that all were from the local area, mostly Port Lavaca.
Crews Removing Piece of Barge from Corpus Christi Ship Channel
The Waymon L. Boyd was operating along refinery row at the barge loading dock when the vessel struck the pipeline. Orion Marine had apparently been hired by a private client at the Port of Corpus Christi and was not participating in the project to improve the ship channel.
Enterprise Products Partners operated the pipeline and confirmed on Friday that it experienced a release of propane from a portion of its south Texas pipeline system at the Port of Corpus Christi, resulting in a fire. The company initiated its response plan and isolated the affected segment of the pipe.
The current dive and salvage operation began on Sunday morning.
“A piece of the dredging vessel was located in the middle of the channel and is currently in the process of being safely removed,” a Nueces County Press Release stated. “The Texas General Land Office, state lead for coastal oil spill response, is on the scene and is working to identify and protect Texas natural resources and ensure the spill is contained.”
So far, it’s not clear what caused the barge to strike the propane line. Because the tragedy involves a pipeline, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the explosion.
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