BOLIVAR — The Robert Lanier Ferry was temporarily grounded Sunday evening around 7 p.m. near the Bolivar landing after encountering a buildup of silt in the channel, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The ferry was stuck for approximately three hours before being freed by a tugboat. It was able to offload traffic safely on the Bolivar side. Passengers, vehicles, and crew were on board at the time, but no injuries were reported, and the overall impact was minimal, TxDOT Public Information Officer Danny Perez confirmed with KGTX.

The grounding was attributed to the natural accumulation of silt over time, particularly near the ferry landings, which are known trouble spots. While tidal and weather conditions can accelerate this buildup, TxDOT conducts annual dredging to maintain navigable depths. The channel involved in Sunday’s incident was already scheduled for dredging this week.

Despite the temporary grounding, regular ferry service between Galveston and Bolivar was not disrupted. According to Perez, traffic continued flowing throughout the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend.

As a safety precaution, the Robert Lanier Ferry will remain out of service until it receives clearance from the United States Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping.

When asked about the ferry’s incident history, Perez said more time would be needed to determine whether the Robert Lanier had experienced similar issues in the past.

Ongoing dredging and continued situational awareness by experienced ferry captains remain the primary safeguards against future incidents, according to TxDOT.