US COAST GUARD Isabel Knutsenm GALVESTON, TEXAS

GALVESTON, Texas - Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Galveston and the Texas General Land Office are preparing to oversee the lightering and salvage of the chemical tanker Isabel Knutsen, a 523-foot ship that ran aground in the southeastern corner of the intersection of the intracoastal waterway (ICW) and the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) Tuesday.
The tank ship is carrying approximately 15,183 metric tons of cyclohexane, a solvent often used in the production of nylon, and approximately 663 metric tons of fuel oil. The vessel is currently stable, structurally intact, and not discharging any oil or cargo. Vessel traffic continues as normal on both the HSC and the ICW.
Two tugboats unsuccessfully attempted to free the ship this morning, which became stuck after reportedly losing steering just before 6 a.m.