The Battalion
STATE & LOCAL
3
5-3314 Monday, September 17,1990
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HOUSTON (AP) — A series of recent acci
dents is raising concerns about the safety of
the narrow Houston Ship Channel and boost
ing a proposal that would use satellite tech
nology to improve navigation along the na
tion's third busiest waterway.
The rash of marine accidents began J uly 25
when a tugboat sank in Galveston Bay after
water poured through an unsecured hatch
and swamped the boat.
Three days later, a tanker collided with two
oil barges being pushed up the channel by a
tugboat, spilling 700,000 gallons of oil into
the bay. Then on Aug. 12, a barge buckled
and cracked while being loaded at a dock,
dumping another 21,000 gallons of crude.
But a study by the Houston Chronicle of
U S. Coast Guard records shows that overall,
the number of accidents in the ship channel is
on the decline. Yet the number of vessels be
ing damaged in mishaps in all the waterways
around the Houston-Galveston area is
sharply.
up
“I wouldn’t say they (Houston and Galves
ton) have a reputation for being especially
dangerous,” Arthur McKenzie, president of
the Tanker Advisory Center in New York,
said. “I’ve been up and down that channel
many times. I wouldn’t say it doesn’t have its
problems, but so does every other port.”
At least one pilot disagreed witn that as
sessment.
“The Houston Ship Channel is notorious
for being the hardest (channel) in the country
— if not the world,” said Harry Lydick, pre
siding officer for the Houston Pilots, an asso
ciation representing 57 pilots who guide ships
through the waterway.
But in the 52-mile-long ship channel, the
number of significant accidents reported fell
to 45 last year, from 87 in 1983, according to
records. The number of vessels involved in
mishaps dropped from 143 in 1983 to 69 last
year.
Changes in the volume of traffic in the
channel don’t explain the declines. In 1983,
traffic was low, with only 88 million tons of
cargo moving through the Port of Houston.
Last year, the port set a record at 126 million
tons.
The most common incidents were mechan
ical problems — stalled engines and steering
system failures. Groundings accounted for
nearly one in three incidents in the channel.
While collisions were more rare at 16 percent,
they accounted for more than a third of the
damage.
Faulty vessel equipment caused the most
accidents on the waterway between 1983 and
1989, at 43 percent. Another 39 percent of
the accidents were caused by human error,
the Coast Guard said.
A less-encouraging trend appears to be
working in the broader Houston-Galveston
region, which includes the Intracoastal Wa
terway, Freeport, Texas City, all parts of Gal
veston Bay not part of the ship channel and
Gulf of Mexico waters.
In that area, 233 vessels were involved in
incidents in 1988 — the latest year for which
complete data is available — more than dou
ble the 101 in 1986.
This T hursday, the Houston Pilots will
present recommendations to port officials de
signed to improve safety in the channel. Ly
dick declined to reveal the full slate of sugges
tions.
But he said one proposal will call for the
use of military satellites to help position buoys
and other navigational aids in the waterway.
As storms buffet the waterway, navigatio-
cn
nal markers like buoys and towers, which are
critical in identifying a ship’s position in the
waterway, get knocked out of position.
When Coast Guard officials realign the
navigational aids, they must use points on
land to determine their positions. And that
system is less than perfect.
“We need the position to be a little bit more
accurate,” Lydick said. “The men don’t have
the equipment to do that.”
BATTIPS
Anyone with story suggestions
can call BATTIPS, The Battal
ion’s phone line designed to im
prove communication between
the newspaper and its readers.
The BATTIPS number is 845-
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Ideas can include news stories,
feature ideas, and personality
profiles of interesting people.
Monday
TAMU ROADRUNNERS: will have a free pizza party for all paid members at 7
p.m. at the Flying Tomato. Call Ron at 693-8071 for more information.
AGGIES AGAINST BONFIRE: will have a general meeting at 6 p.m. at the Aca
demic Building, behind Sul Ross statue
ACCOUNTING SOCIETY: will have a casual party for Accounting Society mem-
Bagge
mation.
bers at 7:30 p.m. at Rita’s. Call Aimee Baggett at 823-6743 for more infor-
LUTHERAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP: will have Bible study at 8:30 p.m in
507AB Rudder.
WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS: will have Dr. Foxworth as speaker and dis-
spe
cussion of semester events at 8 p.m. in 229 MSC. Call Suzanne at 693-
1420 for more information.
MINORITY ASSOCIATION OF PRE-HEALTH AGGIES: will have a general
meeting with important speaker. Check screen for room number.
ity
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TEXAS A&M STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL
SOCIETY: will have a meeting and presentation at 7 p.m. in 1209 Eller
(O&M). Call Greg at 823-0632 for more information.
CAMPUS MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL: will meet prior to Billy Crockett concert
at 6:30 p.m. in the MSC flag room. Call Scott Goodman at 696-7928 for
ifor
more information.
PRO-CHOICE AGGIES: will have a mandatory meeting, new members wel
come, at 8:30 p.m. in 404 Rudder. Call Kelly Ann at 847-0162 for more
information.
NARCOTICS^ ANONYMOUS^ will have a general discussion at 8:30 p.m. Call
ifo
the C.D.P.E. at 845-0280 for more information.
STUDENTS AGAINST APARTHEID: will have a general meeting at 8:30 p.m. in
230 Rudder. Call Paul at 764-8110 for more information.
AGGIES AGAINST DRIVING DRUNK: will meet at 7 p.m. in 203 MSC. Call Deb
orah at 845-0280 for more information.
ACCOUNTING SOCIETY: will have a general information meeting at 7 p.m. in
“3-674* ‘ ■
158 Blocker. Call Aimee at 823-6743 for more information.
Tuesday
BETA ALPHA PSI: will have an officer meeting at 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Blocker
elevators.
CUBAN CULTURAL SOCIETY: will have a meeting at 8 p.m. in 123 Academic
Bldg. Call Elena at 693-2745 for more information.
THE MEDICINE TRIBE: will discuss the racial unity rally, Crop Walk and styro
foam boycott at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Academic Building, behind Sul
Ross statue. Call Irwin at 268-7471 for more information.
Bible study at 7 p.m. in the Methodist Student Center. Call Max or Judy at
846-4701 for more information. Breakfast and devotional at 7 a.m. in the
Student Center. Call Judy at 846-4701 for more information.
CLASS OF ’91 COUNCIL: Ring Dance committee applications are due in Stu
dent Programs Office. For more information, call Jannine at 846-0208.
AGGIES FOR BARTON: come help work in a national campaign at 6 p.m. in
352 MSC. Call Suzie at 846-1574 for more information.
SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB: will have a fall barbecue. Leon Locke, chair
man of the Nation Livestock and Meat Board, will be speaker at 6:30 p.m.
at the Sons of Hermann Hall (map in Kleberg). Tickets $5. New members
i. Call 845-4433 for
get in free with their leather B.
for more information.
BOLIVIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION: will have a meeting to sign up for ISA
Mini-Olympics at 7:30 p.m. in 026 MSC. Call Maurtcio at 693-9193 for
more information.
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS: registration ends today for in-
‘ ' at “
tramural triathlon and intramural horseshoe doubles at 5:30 p.m. in 159
Read. Call Mark Ritter at 845-7826 for more information.
POLITICAL SCIENCE SOCIETY: will have a student/faculty mixer with free
pizza for members at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Tomato. Call Melissa at 764-
6586 for more information.
ST. MARY’S: will will have a class at 7:30 p.m. at the Student Center for all
those desiring to become Catholic or just curious about Catholicism. Call
846-5717 for more information.
ORTHODOX STUDENT ORGANIZATION: will have group gathering at 6 p.m.
at 311 A Spruce St. in College Station.
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS: will meet at 8:30 p.m. in 201 MSC. Call Scot
Kibbe at 764-1988 for more information.
PSI CHI: will have first meeting at 7 p.m. in 338 Psychology Building. Call Kelley
nfo
at 846-2482 for more information.
HONORS STUDENT COUNCIL: will have a meeting for selection of committees
at 7:30 p.m. in 124 Blocker.
NATIONAL RESIDENCE HALL HONORARY: will have a formal meeting at 7
p.m. in 305 Rudder.
MSC JORDON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS: will have
Chinese Cultural Arts Performance at 7 p.m. in Rudder Theater. $3 per
person. Call 845-1234 for more information.
AG & LIFE SCIENCES COUNCIL: will have a meeting & hamburger cook out at
7 p.m. at the Olsen Park Pavilion. Call Deborah at 693-7503 for more in
formation.
TAMU SURF CLUB: will show the 1989 O.P. Pro featuring Tom Currer at 8:30
p.m. in 308 Rudder. Free to members; $2 for nonmembers. Call Greg
Kr
MSC POLITICAL FORUM: Election 1990: Lt. Governor’s Race Rob Mosbacher
Republican candidate at 7 p.m. in 226 MSC.
(nowles at 696-1113 for more information.
TAMU STUDENT SENATE: will have a regular bi-monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m.
in 204 Harrington.
MSC RECREATION: will have Sega games tournament all day Monday and
Tuesday in 224 MSC. The winner goes to the national competition and
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there will be prizes. Open to all students.
CATHOLIC STUDENT ASSOCIATION: will have an organizational meeting for
the new Bible study; ail those interested attend at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s
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TAMU PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB:_ will havejips on successful glamour posing
ill /
Student Center. Call 846-5717 for more information.
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS: registration begins for intramu
ral co-rec two pitch softball, intramural innertube water basketball and in
tramural badminton doubles at 8 a.m. in 159 Read. Entry fee is $20 per
info
team for basketball and softball. Call 845-7826 for more information.
ANTHROPOLOGY SOCIETY: Dr. Dickson will talk about ecology and human
prehistory in Kenya at 8:30 p.m. in 231 MSC. Call MaryAnn at 847-1309
for more information.
and lighting at 7 p.m. in 231 MSC. Call Amy at 845-1631 for more infor
mation.
/terns for What's Up should be submitted to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald,
no later than three business days before the desired run date. We publish the
name and phone number of the contact only if you ask us to do so. What's Up is
a Battalion service that lists non-profit events and activities. Submissions are run
on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no guarantee an entry will run. If you
have questions, call the newsroom at 845-3316.
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AMOCO
INVITES ALL
ENGINEERING, BUSINESS AND GEOSCIENCE STUDENTS
TO A
WHEN: Wednesday, September 19, 5:00 to 10:00pm
Where: Southwood Athletic Park Pavilion
Rock Prairie Road, Behind Humana Hospital
Social: 5:00 to 7:00
Buffet: 7:00
FOOD
GAMES ★ PRIZES
COME JOIN AMOCO’S TEXAS A&M RECRUITING TEAM
FOR FOOD, FUN & A FABULOUS TIME!
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Alpha Kappa Psi
National Professional Business Fraternity
Proudly announces its newly selected Pledge Class for Fall 1990.
Kim Allen
David Bonsukan
Mischell Briggs
Lisa Busker
Robin Danford
Tom Delanoy
Hector Elizondo
Sean Fuquay
Bryan Gaston
Mindy Gill
Allison Gorman
Anne Irvin
Marcie McCarter
Adrienne Newman
Kipp Ogden
Angie Pettit
Suzanne Scholz
Julie Shiver
Richard Stroup
Scott Ulrich
Adam Vanek
Johnna Young
Stacy Young
Congratulations Nu Pledge Class
A Unique Consulting Firm
Hewitt Associates
SIGN-UPS
HAVE
BEGUN
is visiting Texas A M University
Hewitt Associates is an international firm of consultants and
actuaries specializing in the design, financing, communication,
and administration of employee benefit and compensation
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Register by
submitting your
resume to the
Placement Center.
programs. We are included in the publications The 100 Best
Companies to Work for in America and The Best Companies
for Women.
ON-CAMPUS
INTERVIEWS
Wednesday
October 3rd
INFORMATION
SHARING
We are interested in students with the following majors:
Accounting
Applied Mathematical Sciences
RANA
Computer Science
Economics
Finance
Management
Mathematics
Statistics
Tuesday
September 18th
7:00 p.m.
Room 229
Memorial Student
Center
We look for people who are adaptable, creative, analytical, and
her. Our challenge is
i can respond to the
intelligent; people who work well together. Our challenge is to
identify and develop those people who <
opportunities of today and tomorrow.
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The Woodlands, TX • Las Colinas, TX • Lincolnshire, IL
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An equal opportunity employer m/f.