One person was killed and four others rescued when a bulk carrier and towboat collided in the Ship Channel in 2024.

HOUSTON — We’re now getting a better understanding of what investigators say led to a deadly collision between a bulk carrier and towboat in the Houston Ship Channel two years ago.  According to the federal investigators, it was caused by cellphone use and a lack of proper lookout.

The collision happened on July 19, 2024. The bulk carrier Yangze 7 and the towboat Miss Peggy collided near Lynchburg. The towboat with five people on board capsized. Four people who were on the towboat were rescued by good Samaritans. A fifth was later found dead.



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During their investigation, the NTSB determined the pilot directing the bulk carrier was on a 39-minute “non-operational” phone call with another pilot. It was a call that the NTSB said ended a little more than two minutes before the collision, leaving the pilot unaware of the towboat.  Investigators say that bulk carrier’s bridge team knew the pilot was on a phone call, and at least one team member knew it was a personal call. 

The NTSB also reported that neither ship kept a proper lookout. The towboat didn’t detect the bulk carrier, which was approaching from behind. Investigators also determined the bulk carrier’s bridge team didn’t see the towboat until it was less than a ship’s length ahead.

Cellphone use and lack of proper lookout led to 2024 fatal vessel collision in the Houston Ship Channel. NTSB issues new recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Pilots’ Association. https://t.co/eIjyJsZslf
Investigation webpage: https://t.co/iTuEvXDq2b pic.twitter.com/Aujeb7uDBF

— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) August 6, 2026

“We determined that the probable cause of the collision between the bulk carrier Yangze 7 and towing vessel Miss Peggy was the loss of situation awareness of the Houston pilot, the Yangze 7 bridge team, and the captain of the Miss Peggy due to a failure to maintain a proper lookout,” the NTSB said in a press release. “Contributing to the pilot’s inadequate lookout was distraction caused by extended nonoperational cell phone use. Contributing to the pilot’s nonoperational cell phone use was the lack of prohibition by the Houston Pilots against the use of personal electronic devices by its pilots actively directing the movement of a vessel.”

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