Federal investigators say a dredge operator’s inadequate communication, planning, and risk management likely led to a propane pipeline blast at a Texas port that killed five people last year.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas The search for two crew members of a dredging boat who went missing following an explosion last week in the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas has been ended, the U.S. Coast Guard announced. Our Coast Guard crews worked intently alongside state and local partners to locate the two crew members who remained missing, but unfortunately, we were unable to locate them, said Capt. Edward Gaynor, commander, Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi. The decision to suspend a search is never easy and a lot of factors are considered before suspending a search. Port of Corpus Christi officials said it was a propane pipeline.

2 bodies found, 2 missing after explosion in Port of Corpus ChristiPublished: August 22, 2020, 2:18 pm Updated: August 24, 2020, 7:37 pmIn this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard crews respond to a dredge on fire in the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Aug. 21, 2020 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Authorities say several people have been hospitalized after an explosion at the Texas port when a dredging vessel hit a natural gas pipeline in the water. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP) (U.S. Coast Guard)In a story August 22, 2020, about an explosion in the Port of Corpus Christi, The Associated Press, quoting the port, erroneously reported what the pipeline involved was carrying. Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Coast Guard crews respond to a dredge on fire in the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Authorities say several people have been hospitalized after an explosion at the Texas port when a dredging vessel hit a natural gas pipeline in the water. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A dredging vessel at a Texas port hit a propane pipeline Friday, sparking an explosion that sent six people to the hospital and left four others missing, authorities said. The explosion happened at about 8 a.m. in the Port of Corpus Christi when the dredging vessel Waymon L Boyd struck a submerged pipeline, Coast Guard Lt. Marina Lawrence said. The Port of Corpus Christi said in a statement that it was a propane pipeline. Of the six injured, five were airlifted to a San Antonio hospital for severe burns while another was expected to be discharged Friday, said Sean Strawbridge, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi Fire Department Chief Robert Rocha said that upon arrival, firefighters “encountered heavy fire and smoke conditions.” By late Friday morning, the supply line feeding fire had been shut off, Rocha said.

Coast Guard crews respond to a dredge on fire in the Port of Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Authorities say several people have been hospitalized after an explosion at the Texas port when a dredging vessel hit a natural gas pipeline in the water. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)