CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The U.S. Coast Guard Corpus Christi sector told 3NEWS on Thursday that a possible gas leak from an underwater pipe has warranted the establishment of a safety zone in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near mile marker 546 and approximately 0.5 nautical miles south of Corpus Christi Bay Day Beacon 61.
The city of Corpus Christi issued a news release Saturday informing the public of the leak, stating it hadn't previously been notified about the incident. THe release states pipeline's area isn't enough to impact Corpus Christi.
The cause of the leak is unknown, with no reportable quantity, and coordinated efforts are underway for dive crews to repair the underwater leak, weather permitting. The safety zone will remain in effect until the issue is resolved.
That safety zone warning was still in effect ahead of Saturday's 'Free Fish Day.'
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The department said vessels shouldn't go through the the safety zone, which the Captain of the Port established Wednesday, without permission from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The warning is meant to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a possible hazard to navigation and possible gas leak from an underwater pipe.
The coordinates of the safety zone are: 27°44'05"N, 097°13'14"W; 27°44'02"N, 097°12'44"W; 27°43'39°N, 097°1248"W; 27°43'39N, 097°13'17"W.
If you have an urgent concern, you can contact the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center at 1-800-874-2143.
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