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Boat of the Week: Meet ‘Boardwalk,’ Houston Rockets Owner Tilman Fertitta’s Showstopping 252-Foot Superyacht

This vessel has a long, instantly recognizable profile. but it's the myriad interior details—and the interplay of light and crystal—that define her., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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At the end of February, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta and his family held an annual Mardi Gras celebration, which they call the San Luis Salute. The event, which included local officials and celebrities, was headlined by the band Maroon 5. But the most visible VIP guest at the gala was Fertitta’s majestic new superyacht, Boardwalk.  

The 252-foot Feadship is indeed a showstopper. It was the largest vessel at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and hundreds of people walking the docks took selfies against Boardwalk ’s towering stern, with a H130 helicopter perched on the top deck. Fertitta and his family enjoyed the show from the comfort of the yacht—from the main-deck’s rear cockpit lounge to be precise.

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It’s Fertitta’s favorite spot on his new yacht, a sanctuary protected from the wind and sun, but still exposed to the ocean. It’s also a microcosm of Boardwalk ’s very intricate design. The stern has the requisite lounges, bar and large flat-screen television, but that’s where it differs from other yachts. The ceiling has delicate curves, there are many lights embedded into the area above the bar, and the trim on the columns supporting the stern’s overhang is highly stylized.

The abundance of crystal and lighting define Boardwalk ‘s formal dining area.  Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

“I don’t think any other owner pays as much attention to the details,” Fertitta told Robb Report during a visit to the yacht. “If you look at the bigger yachts, they really don’t vary much with standard features like ceilings and lighting.”

“Tilman came in with all the important details—all the details that really make the difference in this boat,” adds Amy Halffman, who worked closely with Fertitta on the design. “He’s an extreme detail man, down to the quarter of an inch.”

The Houston entrepreneur has made a highly successful career out of paying attention to the details. Named by Forbes as the “World’s Wealthiest Restaurateur,” the chairman of Fertitta Entertainment and chairman of Landry’s has an empire that also includes the Houston Rockets NBA team, multiple restaurants, Bentley and Rolls-Royce dealerships, and five-star hotels.

The contrast of the black stairwell with the white floors is dramatic, nicely offset by the custom stainless-steel inlays along the railings.  Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

Fertitta’s Post Oak Hotel in Houston, in fact, provided inspiration for Boardwalk . “We spent a lot of time meeting at the hotel,” says Halffman. “He had a lot of input into that design, which is classy and elegant, so we decided to reflect that style on the yacht.”

This Feadship is actually Halffman’s fifth yacht project with Fertitta, the other four Boardwalks being a succession of ever-larger Westports, the most recent being 165 feet in length. After owning it for 12 years, “it felt like time for a larger project,” says Fertitta. “One that was more complex and elaborate.”

While upsizing by almost 100 feet sounds like a simple hull stretch, the Feadship has 1,848 gross tonnes of interior volume, compared to 492 on the last Westport—in other words, the latest Boardwalk has nearly four times as much interior as the last one. That makes not only for a very complicated build—something which bespoke builder Feadship is used to—but also a new mindset for the interior design, which the design team needed to wrap their heads around.

A more relaxed vibe in the owner’s office.  Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

Halffman and design partner Frank Woll came up with the concept about four years ago, and then worked closely with the owner on the yacht’s many features. There are hundreds of features, seen and unseen, that distinguish the interior.

The most noticeable—arresting, in fact—is a whimsical, fantasy-like sculpture of a bronze female form with a dress of flowing crystals, diamonds and pearls. The work by Estella Fransbergen is strategically placed in the main entry. “She’s like a guardian angel,” says the sculptor, noting it took nearly two years to complete. “She was originally going to be placed by the staircase, but we moved her so she greets everyone.”

“I’d seen Estella’s work years ago and admired it,” says Halffman. “The torso of the woman’s body appealed to everyone and proved to be a launchpad for me. It played off all the other features.” They include an enormous crystal in the main foyer, pendant chandeliers in the formal dining area beside a case with crystal wear, and bespoke crystal light fixtures on the nearby stairway—which also has a beautiful stainless railing that resembles a feature from the last Boardwalk , but on a much grander scale.

The main salon, with detailed lighting overhead. Notice the backlighting on the rear bar.  Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

The designers looked for striking but elegant stones—a white opal for the salon and an onice grigio for the sky lounge—mixed with Sapele, mahogany and other dark-stained woods that show contrast with the light-colored fabrics and tiling. The wine cellar even has a custom stainless-steel design that gives it a distinctive look. In all, 55 stones, marbles and tiles were used across the yacht.

Of course, all these stunning details were made possible by the ubiquitous placement of lighting, both direct and indirect, something that Fertitta understands with almost a scientific precision. His previous Westport had four times more lights than the yard had ever put on the 164-foot series. This Feadship paid even more attention to the lighting. Even the beach club, with its lounge and dedicated dive and watersports locker, has a stylish, deliberate look. The bar has a light fixture comprised of Swarovski crystals.

The yacht, though immense, is easy to navigate. Fertitta and longtime captain Tristan Judson paid attention to the functional aspects, creating an open foredeck where the two Hogdon-built tenders are stored, adding the ability to use the massive area for social occasions. The sundeck has a mosaic-tiled swimming pool, and above that is an observation deck with a mast. On that level, one gets a sense of how large Boardwalk really is, surrounded by smaller superyachts at the Fort Lauderdale show.

The intricate details on the day head—typically a forgotten space—give a sense of the how the design team approached the interior.  Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

Still, the owner and his designers managed to keep a sense of intimacy throughout, installing what they call a “country kitchen” as the owner’s galley, to allow more informal meals and socializing than the main dining room, while retaining the yacht’s professional galley for the staff on another deck. Fertitta, who often works on board, has an office dressed with light-colored fabrics, lounges and glass doors to access the exterior decks.

The Feadship may not be Fertitta’s last yacht. Rumor has it that he’s talking to European yards about an even larger Boardwalk . When asked about it, he says simply: “I love to build things.”

Some other angles.

Courtesy Fertitta Entertainment

Courtesy Boardwalk

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Cool Spaces: Step aboard Tilman Fertitta's luxury mega-yacht

At 164-feet long, 31-feet wide and almost 500 tons, this is no ordinary yacht. Welcome aboard "The Boardwalk", Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta's luxury ocean vessel and favorite toy.

The $40 million yacht has 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, grand salons, and a true chef's kitchen with steamers, warming drawers, and walk-in fridge and freezer.

The master suite features an owner's office, opulent bedroom with space to spare, and a gorgeous bathroom.

No expense was spared on the outdoor space either. "The Boardwalk" boasts multiple decks, lounges, scooters for land excursions, and even a helicopter pad.

Fertitta, his family and crew travel the world on the yacht. Some of his favorite stops are the Bahamas and the Mediterranean.

"It's one of those things I always wanted and I'll always have. It isn't cheap, I can tell you that," Fertitta said with a smile. "But every time I walk on it, I tell myself, 'God, I love this boat.'"

SEE ALSO: Jerry Jones becomes owner of new $250 million 'superyacht'

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🔒insiders: go inside tilman fertitta’s ultra-luxe yacht, a ‘mansion on the water’.

Amanda Cochran , Digital Special Projects Manager

HOUSTON – Houston billionaire and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta showed KPRC 2 inside his luxurious new yacht he docked in Galveston around Mardi Gras.

This is Fertitta’s sixth yacht. The owner of the restaurant giant Landry’s, Inc. and Golden Nugget Casinos told KPRC 2′s Frank Billingsley he played an integral part in designing “the boat” -- the term he prefers for the massive yacht he has dubbed The Boardwalk. The yacht, he explained, was ordered several years ago and took two-and-a-half years to build. It was finished during the pandemic.

Fertitta said in addition to a pool, luxury accommodations, bars on each level and water sport vehicles, the yacht has a full office with full communications around the world.

In addition to docking in Galveston, Fertitta said in the next few years he plans to enjoy “the boat” around the world, with plans to dock in places like the Bahamas, Mexico, Greece, Croatia and more.

Watch more with Fertitta and Billingsley in the video above.

You can also take a detailed look inside the massive yacht below and learn more about how the yacht is manned with the yacht captain in the second video below.

Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

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Welcome to the Boardwalk FantaSea, Cruising from the Kemah Boardwalk.

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Galveston Island Guide

The boardwalk: galveston’s historic pleasure pier.

FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS, GO TO... By Kimber Fountain, Photographed by Christa Schreckengost The year is 1906. The citizens of Galveston have survived The Great Storm of 1900, which would endure as the most catastrophic natural disaster in American history. They have built a seventeen foot high seawall, and are a mere two years into the seven year project of raising the elevation of the southern edge of the Island to meet it. Contrary to popular assumption, the Storm had done very little to slow Galveston’s growth as a commercial port, and it had done even less to phase local entrepreneurs who knew that one of the Island’s many attractions were its soft sands and warm waters, and its allure as a local seaside resort. That was also the year that Galveston Electric Park made its awe-inspiring debut. On opening day, May 25, 1906, the owner granted free admission to the massive amusement facility that would come to be known as “The Coney Island of the South.” It was the largest resort in the western United States, and boasted a Nickelodeon with “moving picture shows,” roller coasters, a ferris wheel, penny arcade, vaudeville shows, live music, an Electric Swing, theatres, and special exhibits and displays, all brilliantly lit up by over six thousand electric lights. A special excursion train connected Houston directly to the amusement park. In 1943 amid the tensions of World War II, the original Pleasure Pier was opened as an entertainment facility for United States military and their families. At the time it cost a staggering 1.5 million dollars to build, and was the largest park of its kind in the country. The original Pier included rides, midway games, an enormous ballroom that hosted national acts, and an outdoor theatre at the far end where visitors could watch movies under the stars. Throughout its duration a world-class aquarium, roller skating, a zoo, concerts, wax figures, and even cliff diving exhibitions were added to the venue. It was eventually opened to the public and remained a center point of attraction to the Island through the remainder of the 1940s and 50’s. In 1961, Hurricane fell swift upon Galveston, and took as one of its victims the prized Pleasure Pier. Recently, history has repeated itself. The destruction left by Hurricane Ike in 2008 was no match to the devastation in 1900, but it was enough to send many people here packing for higher ground; the damage led even more people from the mainland to seek out other locations to vacation. A mere four years later, the City of Galveston has found itself yet again on the leading edge of the topics it knows best. Resilient engineering projects such as the Ike Dyke are being designed and considered, and small business, commerce, and real estate are experiencing rapid growth and movement. And once again, local businessmen are rallying to the front, determined to survive the assault of nature, surpass the stigmas left in its wake, and reestablish Galveston’s prominence as a family vacation destination. One such person is Tilman Fertitta, Galveston native and proprietor of the well-known Landry’s Corporation. His contributions to Galveston tourism include the perpetuation of locally established favorites like Fish Tales and Fisherman’s Wharf, three hotels including the world famous San Luis Resort, the Galveston Convention Center, and of course, Galveston’s Historic Pleasure Pier. The Pier opened in May of 2012, although the excitement and anticipation for the development had been building for quite some time. For three years locals and visitors drove by the depressing remnants of the once-famed Flagship Hotel, the only hotel in North America that was situated over the water. Falling prey to the ravages of Ike, the hotel’s forty year legacy came to an abrupt halt in September of 2008, suffering irreparable damage. Following the success of the wildly popular Kemah Boardwalk, Fertitta transformed the seawall piece by piece by disassembling the old hotel and putting in its place a spectacular display of rides, lights, and amusements, all in homage to its predecessors Galveston Electric Park and the original Pleasure Pier. Of course, the new Pleasure Pier far outshines those predecessors at the same time it continues their legacy: the innovation and technology used in creating the new Pleasure Pier far outweighs anything that has come before it. Sixteen rides, Midway Games, Texas’ first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., along with a variety of amenities, conveniences, and activities, all combine to form a world class amusement park that stretches fearlessly over the Gulf. Rides are available for kids of all ages and sizes. They include everything from major amusements like the fierce roller coaster Iron Shark and the log ride Pirate’s Plunge; to the gentle strum of the lolling Carousel; to all of our favorite, timeless carnival rides, like Texas Tea (teacups), Texas Flyer (swings), and Rock & Roll (remember the carousel on steroids from the local fair?). For the avid amusement park-goer, there is typically one major goal to accomplish with any visit, and that is to, in the most fun way possible, completely rearrange their insides and then use centrifugal force to put them back together. The Sea Dragon, Bumper Cars, Sky Shooter, Cyclone, and Gulf Glider all add to the collective effort in accomplishing that goal. However, if you prefer a calmer approach to amusement the Pleasure Pier offers more than enough activity and refreshment to keep you entertained and flat on your feet. Carnival and midway games like Ring Toss and Basketball line the boardwalk, as do coin-operated High Power Telescopes, allowing you to see clearly far across the Gulf and down the Seawall. Comfortable seating is available at almost every turn, as are shaded picnic tables and benches. Commemorative memorabilia can be purchased throughout the park, such as Ride Photos and Old Time Photos, and satellite photographers move around through the park to help you capture your special day. There is face painting for the kids, and a Brew Station and designated smoking area for the bigger kids. The entire facility is immaculately maintained, the employees are friendly and helpful, and the Pier includes many extra amenities and extras. A variety of different food is available to suit all tastes, there are lockers for rent if you wish to secure valuables or belongings, the restrooms are clean, and there is an ATM and First Aid on-site. A day at Pleasure Pier is an experience that will surely delight people of all ages, as it does remarkably well in pleasing and providing for both children and adults. Rides, amusements, and hours of fun for the kids combine with cleanliness and convenience that all adults will appreciate. The impact of Pleasure Pier in its first year of existence has been far reaching. To visitors and tourists, it provides an amazing addition to the family vacation or weekend excursion. For the ongoing improvements and beautification of the Seawall, it is literally and figuratively the shining beacon of progress and innovation. But most importantly, for the local population, the Pleasure Pier has been a revival of Galveston’s finest hour, and a glimpse of the city’s enduring potential for greatness. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier www.pleasurepier.com Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-11pm All day entrance and ride passes: $26.99 for adults, $19.99 for children under 48” tall. Individual ride tickets and walk-on passes are also available. Related Items: amusement park , beach , Family , Galveston , Galveston Bay , Galveston Island , galveston tx , Pleasure Pier , To Do Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you

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Billionaire Tilman Fertitta aboard his superyacht Boardwalk in the Bahamas during a Forbes 400 interview. (Photo by Jamel Toppin for Forbes)

Tilman Fertitta's 252-foot superyacht 'Boardwalk' with the H130 helicopter perched on top (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

The swirling grand staircase on Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

The main salon on Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

Tilman Fertitta's office on his superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

The resplendent powder room on Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

The dining room on the main deck of Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

The sky lounge on Tilman Fertitta's superhyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

A primary suite aboard Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

Sculpture by Estella Fransbergen in the dining room of Tilman Fertitta's superyacht 'Boardwalk' (Photo courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment)

Tilman Fertitta's 252-foot, $150 million superyacht Boardwalk courses through canals after departing Feadship's Aalsmeer shipyard in The Netherlands on its way to sea trials. (Photo courtesy of Feadship)

Tilman Fertitta's 164-foot yacht, Boardwalk, creates plenty of envy in ports around the world.

Tilman Fertitta's $150 million, 77-meter yacht 'Boardwalk' welcoming San Luis Salute Mardi Gras VIPs. (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Mardi Gras partying aboard Tilman Fertitta's yacht, 'The Boardwalk' at the San Luis Salute. (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Blayne Fertitta at the 2022 San Luis Salute to Galveston Mardi Gras, pictured here on The Boardwalk, her fatherTilman Fertitta's 77-meter superyacht. (Photo by Rhea Hemming)

Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s Superyacht Causes a Greek Stir — The Boardwalk Continues to Turn Heads

The houston rockets owner travels on an anything but ordinary boat and the stories behind it are becoming legendary.

W hile hiking through the woods lining Greece’s Corinth Canal, a local Greek television reporter took a video of billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s superyacht Boardwalk squeezing through the Corinth Canal. He documented a snippet of the four mile journey and posted it on the TV station’s website with the headline: “Who is its billionaire owner?”

It didn’t take long for the Greek news hounds to discover that entertainment and sports mogul Fertitta was the owner. The video posted on the website shows the 252 foot long, 40 foot wide yacht gliding through the canal, which at its most narrow point is 69 feet. The manmade canal is the watery path leads from the Aegean to the Ionian sea, which opens to the Mediterranean

Sailing on a superyacht from the Greek Isles to the enchanting coast of Italy is definitely the realm of the world’s richest.

Recent reporting in national publications are shedding more light on the superyacht ‘s mastery of luxe design. Among the numerous amenities in the Tilman yacht that sleeps 14 — including the VIP suite — are a 120 bottle wine cellar, a lavishly decorated beauty/massage room, a 19-foot-long swimming pool, a bronze sculpture of a female form by Estella Fransbergen with a dress of flowing crystals, diamonds and pearls, and the billionaire requisite — a helicopter pad.

“I don’t think any other owner pays as much attention to the details,” Fertitta told Robb Report during a visit to his yacht. “If you look at the bigger yachts, they really don’t vary much with standard features like ceilings and lighting.”

Robb Report first gushed over Fertitta’s superyacht in the luxury lifestyle magazine last year.

Introducing Pêche

In addition, the magazine quoted Seattle-based yacht interior designer Amy Halffmann. “Tilman came in with all the important details — all the details that really make the difference in this boat. He’s an extreme detail man, down to the quarter of an inch,” Halffmann told the magazine.

The luxe interiors of the Fertitta superyacht include 54 different types of stone, marble and tiles, including mother of pearl tiles, a light pendant by Charles Loomis , appliqués by Wired Custom Lighting and a glass sculpture from David Wright .

“I was going for classic elegance – beautiful spaces that could stand the test of time, and I think we achieved that,” Halffman tells Boat International .

A limited number of Houstonians and Galveston residents are privy to the superyacht as each year Fertitta transports this — his second Boardwalk — to Galveston during Mardi Gras. He entertains VIP guests at a cocktail reception aboard the superyacht before the billionaire and friends join a police escort caravan to the Galveston Convention Center for Fertitta’s San Luis Salute to Mardi Gras.

Now, the rest of the world is getting in on the fascination.

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Galveston Traveler

Sun and Fun on Galveston Island

The Boardwalk in Galveston: The Historic Pleasure Pier Tourist Guide

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Wanting to make a trip to the famous boardwalk in Galveston? Make sure to stop by the Galveston Island Historic pleasure pier!

The Pleasure Pier is a boardwalk that offers hours of entertainment for all ages.

It is owned by the same owners of the Kemah boardwalk and is definitely on our list of favorite things to do with kids in Galveston .

The current boardwalk in Galveston was first opened in 2012, and built on the pier that once held the flagship hotel.

It’s in a great location, smack dab in the middle of central Galveston, and about an hour away from downtown Houston.

It’s a popular favorite of the boardwalks in Texas! And offers tons of amusements you’d expect from a good boardwalk including:

• Tons of history
• And some of the best beach views

History of the Galveston Island Boardwalk

Boardwalks are a favorite tourist attraction, and for good reason. They are rich in history, awe, amusement and giving guests some of the best family memories.

The original Galveston boardwalk first appeared in 1906 only a few blocks away from the current pleasure pier.

It was called Electric Park. It brought tons of tourists to the island. This park lit up the island with thousands of lights and new attractions including a roller coaster, carousel and the biggest attraction, the Aerial swing!

Galveston called this boardwalk “The Coney Island of the South.”

The original pleasure pier was built as a recreational facility for the US military during World War 2. It quickly grew and became one of the largest attractions of it’s kind.

It brought hoards of people from all over for the rides, the entertainment and watching movies under the stars in it’s outdoor theater.

Sadly, the hurricane of 1961 damaged the boardwalk beyond repair and was destroyed. The island was without it’s own board walk for over 50 years, until the historic pleasure pier made a come back in 2012!

Rides on the Boardwalk

The rides are a big part of the attraction for the beach based boardwalk. Kids and adults have tons of fun on them. You can purchase individual ride tickets or get the ride pass so you can ride all day, over and over again.

The most impressive rides:

The Ferris Wheel

The Ferris wheel, also called the Galaxy Wheel is a giant 100 foot Ferris Wheel with 20 cars. Up to six people can ride in a single car, so great for a family or group of friends.

At night you can see it lit up and display a dazzling light show!

Swing over the Water

You can literally swing over the ocean on the Texas Star Flyer. This swing suspends it’s riders more than 230 feet over the gulf, giving you one of the most unique views of Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico.

Other rides and attractions

They also have many of the common boardwalk favorites like the swinging pirate boat ride called the sea dragon, and the spinning cyclone looping roller coaster.

For the younger riders, they’ll love the Texas tea cups, the frog hopper and the Lil’ captain wheel.

They also offer fun activities like face painting or check out the 5D theater that includes a heart racing adventure featuring sharks!

Not to mention lots of fun boardwalk games!

Food & Drink

Of course, all that adventuring will leave the whole family hungry. Luckily there are several options for food and drink on the boardwalk itself.

Boardwalk Favorites

They have all the family favorites including

• Funnel cakes
• Burgers & fries
• Chicken fingers
• Beer and mix drinks
• Chili fries
• Sweet treats

Bubba Gump Shrimp

Plus they have an entire sit down restaurant featuring lots of seafood favorites. The atmosphere is amazing and the food is good!

Near by Restaurants

However wait times can be long during the busy season for the restaurant on the pier, but luckily there are lots of great choices just steps away from the boardwalk itself.

Some of the nearby by restaurants include:

• A Chick-fil-a express
• A Wendy’s
• BLVD seafood
• Millers Seawall grill

My personal favorites are the BLVD seafood restaurant and Millers Seawall grill. BLVD seafood is a bit more pricey, but the food is out standing.

And Miller’s is a perfect family style restaurant with a great menu sure to thrill even the pickiest of eaters.

Boardwalk Shopping

And for all those shoppers out there, they offer a couple of retail shops that include fun, good looking tourist gear like clothes and souvenirs.

There’s also a candy shop that’ll have anyone feeling the kid like wonder while choosing which sweet treat to pick.

Visitor Tips

There are a few important things to know when visiting the pleasure pier. During the busy season, parking can be hard to find.

There is parking available on the seawall, however it fills up quickly. The pleasure pier offeres it’s own paid parking across the street from the pier itself.

You can also purchase tickets ahead of time which may save time and help you plan your trip a little better. You can pre-buy your tickets and find out all the current information on the official pleasure pier site.

Other cool things to do near the Pleasure Pier

That’s right, you can even extend your trip and visit a few other attractions that are just a short drive from the pier.

First, you are right next to the beach! Enjoy the sandy shore, play in the waves and listen to the gulls!

Some other great places to consider include:

• Moody Gardens
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark
• Galveston Island State Park

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Texas A&M Galveston to close for days after barge slams into bridge to island

A barge slammed into a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into the bay, forcing a shutdown of the span and prompting the university on the other side of the bridge to close its campus through the weekend, officials said.

Texas A&M University at Galveston said Wednesday evening that the campus on Pelican Island would be closed Thursday through Sunday , citing an " extended outage of the bridge through the weekend," according to the university announcement.

Aerial images showed that a section of a rail line alongside the bridge appeared to have collapsed, with slabs of concrete piled on the barge.

No injuries were immediately reported at the Pelican Island Causeway after the incident, which unfolded shortly before 10 a.m. CT, the city of Galveston said in a statement .

Two operators were on the barge at the time of the impact, said Spencer Lewis, a spokesperson for the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management.

Lewis said that one of the operators fell into the water but was immediately rescued and that the other remained on the barge and was eventually rescued, as well. The Texas A&M marine unit rescued the operators.

The bridge, which was closed earlier Wednesday, had been reopened as of 7 p.m. CT to slow vehicular traffic, and a large line of cars was trying to exit Pelican Island, Lewis said.

The bridge is open only for outbound traffic, he said.

About 200 people were on the island at the time of the incident, and “substantially more than half” have been evacuated, Lewis said.

About 450 people — most of them students — live full time on Pelican Island. Faculty members and other workers make up the rest of the residents, he said.

Texas A&M University at Galveston is offering accommodations to students and faculty members who live on Pelican Island — which is also home to a fishing pier, a naval museum and other industries — but it also encouraged those who stay on campus to prepare to leave if necessary.

The university, which held its graduation ceremony last week, briefly lost power on campus earlier Wednesday, but it was restored quickly, the school said.

Classes scheduled for Thursday and Friday will either be canceled or held remotely, the school said in its evening update, and it encouraged employees to work at alternative locations. Dining services will remain open until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The barge that hit the bridge was “carrying a base petroleum product,” the Coast Guard said in a statement .

The city said: “The collision has resulted in an oil spill in the bay. The U.S. Coast Guard is responding and will determine the extent of the spill, as well as initiate the containment and cleanup processes.”

The accident is the latest to plague American bridges and highways.

A container ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 6, killing six people .

The Fort Madison Toll Bridge , which turns 97 in July and connects Fort Madison, Iowa, with Niota, Illinois, over the Mississippi River, was struck by a barge Thursday .

Two weeks ago, Interstate 95 in Connecticut was closed after a tanker truck filled with gasoline burst into flames and forced the closure of the one of the Eastern Seaboard's most important thoroughfares.

In late March, a family out fishing on the Arkansas River captured video of a barge hitting a bridge near Sallisaw, Oklahoma. And in April, more than two dozen barges broke loose from moorings and floated down the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, striking the Sewickley Bridge .

Galveston fire spokesperson Marissa Barnett said barges go under the bridge multiple times a day.

She pushed back against any comparisons between the Baltimore bridge collapse and Wednesday's incident.

“People have asked if this is like the Baltimore bridge. This is not that,” she said.

CORRECTION (May 15, 2024, 9:24 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the last name of the spokesperson for the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management. He is Spencer Lewis, not Jones.

David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.

San Leon waterfront restaurant Pier 6 launches new sunset catamaran cruise

I f the views of Galveston Bay from Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House's marina aren't enough, the waterside restaurant in San Leon is adding sunset cruises to the menu. 

Wine Down Wednesday cruises will begin this week at Pier 6, and will take place on the first and third Wednesday of each month via Great Escapes Yacht Charter. At $150 per person, customers get two craft cocktails and chef-curated appetizers before boarding the hour-long cruise that will drift through the coasts of Galveston, Clear Lake, Kemah and surrounding areas.

PATIOS: Top 25 best restaurant patios in Houston

The 43-foot power catamaran can cater to up to 12 customers at a time. The next scheduled cruises are May 15, June 5 and June 19. Customers can choose between a 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. cruise. Drinks and bites start 45 minutes before the cruise goes out.

“In addition to sharing the bounty of the Gulf at the restaurant, I’m excited guests now have the opportunity to explore Galveston Bay with us by boat,” said owner Raz Halili. 

Reservations for the cruises can be made on Resy or with the restaurant. The restaurant sees customers booking a dinner reservation followed by a cruise. 

Pier 6 also has bungalows for overnight stays. The bungalows are two-bedroom condos overlooking the bay. 

Pier 6 is open at 113 6th St. in San Leon 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. 

Pelican Bridge is stable, vehicle traffic remains restricted after barge crash: Texas A&M

Texas A&M University at Galveston has finished relocating all non-essential students and staff after a barge crashed into the main bridge leading to campus, the university said.

University spokesperson Rebecca Watts told USA TODAY Thursday that Pelican Bridge is stable and vehicles are allowed to exit Pelican Island using the bridge. Pedestrian traffic also is allowed to use the bridge. Students and staff who have relocated, however, won't be able to get into their housing on the island until after Monday.

“Right now we’re only allowing essential life and safety personnel," Watts said.

Crews continue to work on the bridge, including attempts to clean an oil spill caused by the crash.

Pelican Island is home to the university, maritime business offices and tourist attractions.

Galveston County's Office of Emergency Management told USA TODAY Thursday it was not immediately able to provide an update on the bridge closure.

What happened to Galveston's Pelican Bridge?

The bridge that links Pelican Island to Galveston was struck at around 10 a.m. Wednesday after a barge broke free from a tugboat and crashed into the pilings of the bridge, Galveston County Emergency Management Director Judge Mark Henry told USA TODAY. Power was temporarily disrupted on the island but secondary power was restored as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.

No injuries were reported in the incident but Henry said two crew members were recovered after they went off the barge due to "the impact or they jumped for fear of being crushed by concrete." Television images and footage showed a section of a railway that runs along the bridge collapsing onto the barge.

Authorities later allowed traffic to exit the island but the bridge remained closed to all other vehicular traffic, Texas A&M University at Galveston confirmed Wednesday. Henry said authorities were unable to do a final bridge assessment until the leak is stopped and contained, and the barge is moved.

Galveston officials said emergency management officials from the city, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and the state were responding to the incident Wednesday. Galveston fire and police departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Texas Department of Transportation were also responding.

Engineers from the Texas Department of Transportation went to inspect the roadway for damages and the "bridge will remain closed until it is deemed safe to use," the city said in a statement.

Pelican Island, about 52 miles southeast of Houston, is home to Texas A&M University of Galveston, a naval museum, and Seawolf Park — a former immigration station site that is now a popular fishing pier and attracts tourists to its decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels.

U.S. Coast Guard assessing oil spill

The collision caused an oil spill in the bay, according to city officials. Henry confirmed that vacuum gas oil, which is a combination of hydrocarbons and additives to various kinds of fuel, was leaked into the water.

The barge, which is owned by Martin Petroleum, has a 30,000-gallon capacity but it was not clear how much leaked into the surrounding waters, Galveston County said in a statement on Facebook. The incident led to the closure of about 6.5 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway, according to the county.

"The U.S. Coast Guard is responding and will determine the extent of the spill, as well as initiate the containment and cleanup processes," the city added.

Authorities allow Pelican Island residents to leave

The collision "caused a bit of a problem" on Wednesday for residents on Pelican Island as the bridge is the only way to get on and off the island, Henry said. He estimated that there are about 200 residents at any given time on the island, with one of the larger residences being Texas A&M University at Galveston dorms.

"In the last couple of hours, the Coast Guard and Texas Department of Transportation have allowed residents to leave Pelican Island," Henry said Wednesday. "No one is allowed to go back on Pelican Island."

Latest incident involving U.S. bridges, highways

The Pelican Island Causeway Bridge opened in 1960 and was rated as "Poor," according to the Federal Highway Administration’s most recent data . The federal government classifies a bridge as "structurally deficient" if crucial components such as deck, superstructure, substructure, and culvert conditions are rated less than or equal to 4, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

The bridge's superstructure was rated at 4 or in "Poor Condition," according to the Federal Highway Administration. Other non-crucial components, including bridge railings, transitions, and guardrails, were rated at 0 and did not meet currently acceptable standards.

The Texas Department of Transportation's Houston District had proposed to replace the bridge with a fixed-span bridge in a new location in Galveston County. The agency planned to begin construction in the summer of 2025 and the replacement was estimated to cost $194 million.

The collision comes amid renewed concerns about aging infrastructure in the United States after a large cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, collapsing the bridge and killing six people.

Earlier this month, Interstate 95 in Connecticut  was closed for several days after a gas tanker crashed and burst into flames, damaging an overpass and closing traffic on the busy highway.

Time in Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia now

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Time zone info for Elektrostal

• The time in Elektrostal is 8 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on standard time, and 7 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on daylight saving time.
• Elektrostal does not change between summer time and winter time.
• The IANA time zone identifier for Elektrostal is Europe/Moscow.

Time difference from Elektrostal

Sunrise, sunset, day length and solar time for elektrostal.

• Sunrise: 03:59AM
• Sunset: 08:47PM
• Day length: 16h 47m
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• The current local time in Elektrostal is 23 minutes ahead of apparent solar time.

Elektrostal on the map

• Location: Moscow Oblast, Russia
• Latitude: 55.79. Longitude: 38.46
• Population: 144,000
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Things to Do in Elektrogorsk, Russia - Elektrogorsk Attractions

Things to do in elektrogorsk.

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