The US port of Corpus Christi has remained closed after a drillship broke its moorings and ran aground in the main channel.
The Paragon DPDS1 (built 1979) reportedly broke free on Saturday sinking one tug and disabling a second vessel. The rig is owned by Houston-based Paragon Offshore.
The crews of both ships have been “accounted for and are safe” and the ship appears to be stable, Paragon said in a statement Monday.
The port had originally shutdown on midday on Thursday in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Harvey north of Corpus Christi on Friday night.
The US Coast Guard sector Corpus Christi also confirmed that it had rescued 15 people in distress near Port Aransas, Texas, aboard the tugs Sabine Pass, Sandy Point and Signet Enterprise.
Corpus Christi handles 80% of the crude oil exports coming out of the US, as well as refined products exports.
The port said it sustained light to moderate damage. Power has been restored to several facilities, while several are on emergency power.
The Port of Corpus Christi said it hopes to have operations return to normal by 4 September 2017.
