Federal investigators have released new findings into a deadly maritime collision in the Houston Ship Channel, pointing to a cell phone distraction as a major factor, according to FOX 26. The National Transportation Safety Board detailed what happened in the 2024 crash near Lynchburg, Texas, which involved a cargo ship and a tugboat.
According to the report, the pilot directing the cargo ship was on a personal phone call in the moments before the collision. Investigators say he was on the phone for 39 minutes and ended the call only about two minutes before the crash, and that he did not notice the tugboat in his direction.
The consequences on the water were severe. The tugboat capsized and sank with five crew members on board. Four of them were rescued, but one crew member died in the collision.
Investigators placed responsibility on more than one side. The NTSB found that both the tugboat and the pilot of the cargo ship did not maintain a proper lookout at the time of the collision.
In response, the safety board issued a new recommendation aimed at preventing a repeat. It called on the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Pilots Association to prohibit people who are directing vessels from using their personal devices while they are working.
The agency also pointed to a broader pattern behind the tragedy. It said distractions from personal devices either contributed to or were the probable cause in at least 10 marine casualties between 2009 and 2024, incidents that together killed three people and injured 45.