oil spill occurred in the Galveston Bay area in October 2025 after a cargo ship, the FWN Merchant, struck Pier 32. The U.S. Coast Guard and Texas General Land Office responded to the incident, which closed a portion of the Galveston Ship Channel and prompted the relocation of at least one cruise ship. While the source of the spill has been secured and no injuries or wildlife impacts have been reported, the amount spilled is under investigation. 

• Date: The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
• Cause: A Dutch cargo ship, the FWN Merchant, allided (struck) Pier 32 at the Port of Galveston, discharging fuel oil.
• Response: The U.S. Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, and Forestwave Navigation BV (the responsible party) are jointly managing the response.
• Impact:
  • A portion of the Galveston Ship Channel was closed from Gulf Copper to Pelican Island Bridge to contain the spill.
  • The closure caused delays and rerouting for some vessels, including cruise ships.
  • As of the latest reports, no injuries or impacts to wildlife were reported.
• Current status: The source of the discharge has been secured. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, and the cause of the allision is under investigation. The volume of the spill is still under investigation. 

4

The most significant Texas oil spill from 2014-2017 was the Texas City Y Oil Spill in March 2014, which occurred after a ship and a barge collision in Galveston Bay and released about 168,000 gallons of fuel oil. Another incident was an oil spill off the coast of Port Aransas in October 2017, following a barge collision. 

Texas City Y Oil Spill (March 2014)

• Cause: A collision between the bulk carrier M/V Summer Wind and the oil tank-barge Kirby 27706.
• Location: Galveston Bay, near the Houston Ship Channel.
• Amount spilled: Approximately 168,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil.
• Impact:
  • Closed the Houston Ship Channel to traffic, including ferries.
  • Affected shorelines, wildlife, and the fishing industry.
  • Threatened migratory birds, sea turtle nesting areas, and oyster reefs. 

Port Aransas Oil Spill (October 2017)Cause: A barge collision.Location: Off the coast of Port Aransas, spreading toward Mustang and North Padre islands.Amount spilled: A specific quantity was not stated, but the spill was roughly two miles long and a quarter mile wide.Impact:Threatened critical wintering habitat for migratory birds like the red knot and piping plover.Oiled solids were removed from beaches, and some birds were found with oil on them.Containment booms were deployed to protect habitat areas. Texas City Y Oil SpillThe Texas City Y Oil Spill occurred on March 22, 2014 in Galveston Bay. The spill was caused by a collision between the bulk carrier M/V SUMMER WIND and the oil…USGS (.gov)

Texas City Y Oil Spill

The Texas City Y Oil Spill occurred on March 22, 2014, in Galveston Bay in the vicinity of the Houston Ship Channel near Texas City, Texas, when the inbound …