AUSTIN -- Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston County Office of Emergency Management, U.S. Coast Guard, and the vessel owner of the Buccaneer saw the successful release of this 56’ shrimp boat from its grounding place on Crystal Beach, Bolivar Peninsula, where this vessel ran aground on May 14, 2026. No injuries were reported when the incident occurred.
“The Texas General Land Office is the agency that rolls up our sleeves to serve who we are supposed to serve and get the job done. Working together with our partners, the GLO joined in the planning process to ensure the state’s natural resources were protected throughout this salvage operation. The community can now access the Crystal Beach area, and the vessel owner can get back to supporting his family in this valuable Texas industry,” said Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. “The GLO is dedicated to ensuring our waterways and coastal ecosystems that support commercial and recreational fishing, as well as tourism, are safe and free of environmental hazards."
An aerial image of the 56' shrimp boat being removed from Crystal Beach, Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Vessel removal efforts were led by salvage company Sparks Heavy Rescue. Last week, Sparks, known for his role in the popular show Diesel Brothers, began working with the vessel’s owner, as well as local, state, and federal partners, to ensure the boat’s safe extraction from the beach. Sparks also brought in Channelview, Texas-based Shoreline Construction to assist. After developing a salvage plan and mobilizing equipment, work began Tuesday evening as sand was removed to expose the boat’s hull, rudder, and prop for inspection. Wednesday morning, two excavators, one amphibious, and a bulldozer worked to dig a trench to open water where towboats were waiting to safely pull the Buccaneer to harbor for inspection.
An aerial image of the 56' shrimp boat being removed from Crystal Beach, Wednesday, May 27, 2026
The salvage plan addressed safety for the public and responders, along with tactics to protect coastal water from oil spills during the response and transit. Removed sand was returned to the area where the vessel ran aground, ensuring stability on the beach. Efforts were also made to protect the Buccaneer from damage, safeguarding the owner's livelihood.
With 367 miles of Gulf beaches, Texas has one of the longest coastlines in the country. The GLO is the lead state agency for the prevention and response to coastal oil spills and ensures proper management and stewardship of the Texas coast through a combination of federally partnered and state-led coastal planning efforts.
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.