Source Note:

This story relies on interviews of those involved as recorded in a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. The recently completed U.S. district court trial provided additional details. Transcripts of the radio recordings varied slightly; we use a transcript provided by Kirby Corporation at trial. For context, the reporter and photographers received a tour of a portion of the ship channel on a Kirby Inland Marine tow boat and of the channel entrance and anchorages with the Houston Pilots.