
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Stephen Lehmann.
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard has completed response operations with the fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride near Galveston, Texas, Tuesday.
The Pappy’s Pride has been removed from the edge of Galveston Bay Entrance Channel and no longer poses a hazard to navigation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now the lead federal agency involved in the response and salvage operations.
«Safety has been our number one priority with this operation and thanks to our state and local partners involved we were able to safely remove the vessel as a hazard to navigation, while minimizing impact to the environment and vessel traffic,» said Cmdr. Eric Carrero, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City.
The incident is still under investigation.
To provide information regarding the investigation please contact: accidentinfo@uscg.mil, with a subject line containing M/V BOW FORTUNE-F/V PAPPY’S PRIDE.
UPDATE 3: Unified command suspends search for two missing fishermen after vessel collision near Galveston, Texas

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Stephen Lehmann.
HOUSTON — The unified command has suspended the search Thursday for two missing fishermen from the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride that capsized after a collision near the Galveston Jetties in Galveston, Texas.
Responders searched more than 49 square miles over the past three days.
“It is never an easy decision to suspend a search,» said Cmdr. Jordan Baldueza, Sector Houston-Galveston search and rescue mission coordinator. “Our hearts are with the families, friends and loved ones of every individual involved in this tragic event. Responders from multiple federal, state and local agencies, as well as multiple good Samaritans, have worked tirelessly over the past three days to conduct aerial flights, shore patrols and maritime searches covering more than 49 square miles in hopes of locating these two gentlemen.”
The cause of the incident is still under investigation by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston has the following restrictions while transiting between the Galveston Bay entrance channel lighted buoys 7 and 8 and the Galveston Bay entrance channel lighted buoys 9 and 10 of no meeting or overtaking, with wake and surge considerations due to recovery operations in that area.
Involved in the response are:
- A Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew
- Station Galveston 29-foot Response Boat–Small boat crews
- An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Beluga
- Sector Houston-Galveston Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Marine Safety Unit Texas City personnel
- Texas City Fire Department Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Multiple good Samaritan vessels
- Galveston Police Department
- Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
- Galveston Island Beach Patrol
- Texas General Land Office
- Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Dive Team
UPDATE 2: Unified command established for vessel collision in Galveston, Texas

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Stephen Lehmann.
HOUSTON —A unified command consisting of the Coast Guard, federal on-scene coordinator, Texas General Land Office, state on-scene coordinator, and Mr. Harry Stark, the fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride’s insurance underwriters, has been established Wednesday in response to the collision between the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride and the 600-foot chemical tanker Bow Fortune near the Galveston jetties in Galveston, Texas.
The search for two fishermen from the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride continues. Search and rescue efforts have been conducted through aerial flights, shore patrols and maritime searches.
Approximately 500-feet of containment boom has been placed around the capsized vessel, and teams are conducting shoreline assessments to determine impact. Sheens of unrecoverable product have been reported in the vicinity of the capsized vessel. The maximum potential of the release is 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund has been accessed to contract a local recovery organization to conduct clean-up of any recoverable product that has entered the water and remove any threat of pollution from the vessel.
Salvage of the Pappy’s Pride will be contracted through the fishing vessel’s insurance underwriters.
A temporary safety zone has been established for waters near Galveston Bay Entrance Channel within 300-yards of the sunken fishing vessel. Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston has directed no meeting or overtaking, with wake and surge considerations given for vessels transiting on the Houston Ship Channel between lighted buoys 7 and 9.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
Involved in the response are:
- A Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew
- Station Galveston 29-foot Response Boat–Small boat crews
- An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Beluga
- Sector Houston-Galveston Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Marine Safety Unit Texas City personnel
- Texas City Fire Department Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Multiple good Samaritan vessels
- Galveston Police Department
- Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
- Galveston Island Beach Patrol
- Texas General Land Office
- Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Dive Team
UPDATE 1: Coast Guard continues search for 2 fishermen after vessel collision in Galveston, Texas

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Galveston.
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard is continuing the search Wednesday for two fishermen from the 81-foot fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride that capsized after a collision near the Galveston jetties in Galveston, Texas.
The case began Tuesday when Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston watchstanders were notified of four people in the water after a collision between the fishing vessel and the 600-foot chemical tanker Bow Fortune near the Galveston jetties.
A good Samaritan vessel recovered one of the individuals and transferred them to emergency medical services personnel. A Coast Guard Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew recovered another crewmember who was unresponsive. The crew of the RB-M administered CPR before transferring the crewmember to emergency medical services personnel at Sector Field Office Galveston.
«Despite the life saving efforts of our crew, the gentleman was later pronounced deceased by the medical examiner’s office,» said Cmdr. Jordan Baldueza, Sector Houston-Galveston search and rescue mission coordinator. «Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of all those affected by this tragic event. Our search and rescue efforts remain our top priority at this time.»
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
Involved in the response are:
- A Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew
- Station Galveston 29-foot Response Boat–Small boat crews
- An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter air crew
- Sector Houston-Galveston Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Marine Safety Unit Texas City personnel
- Texas City Fire Department Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team
- Multiple good Samaritan vessels
- Galveston Police Department
- Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
- Galveston Island Beach Patrol
- Texas General Land Office
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