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Houston reopens slowly as US Coast Guard contains 'significant' oil spill
THE Texas port of Houston has been closed while a clean-up operation is underway to remove a "significant" oil spill in the shipping channel, but the harbour is gradually being re-opened.
At one point, there were 100 vessels blocked, but that number has been reduced to 75.
"Once the channel has been determined safe to navigate, and transiting vessels will not spread oil contaminants, a prioritisation list will be established to determine the entry order of vessels," said the US Coast Guard.
"Changing currents, winds and weather conditions have necessitated response officials to further extend oil recovery plans into the Gulf of Mexico and south along Galveston Island," the Coast Guard said.
Last Saturday, the 13,636-dwt Bahamian flagged reefer ship Summer Wind collided with a barge containing 924,000 gallons of fuel oil that was being towed by Kirby Inland Marine's vessel Miss Susan. The Coast Guard estimated 168,000 gallons of oil spilled into the water from the ruptured barge.
Capt Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots chief, said the Coast Guard gave his crew "a small window" to let a few waiting ships into the channel during daylight after outbound ships started moving earlier in the day.
Coast Guard Capt Brian Penoyer, commander of the cleanup operation, has called the spill "significant." The Coast Guard also had several decontamination and inspection stations for ships entering and exiting the channel.
On a typical day, 60 to 80 large vessels, including tankers, freighters, containerships and cruise ships, and 300 to 400 tugs and barges move through the channel.
At one point, there were 100 vessels blocked, but that number has been reduced to 75.
"Once the channel has been determined safe to navigate, and transiting vessels will not spread oil contaminants, a prioritisation list will be established to determine the entry order of vessels," said the US Coast Guard.
"Changing currents, winds and weather conditions have necessitated response officials to further extend oil recovery plans into the Gulf of Mexico and south along Galveston Island," the Coast Guard said.
Last Saturday, the 13,636-dwt Bahamian flagged reefer ship Summer Wind collided with a barge containing 924,000 gallons of fuel oil that was being towed by Kirby Inland Marine's vessel Miss Susan. The Coast Guard estimated 168,000 gallons of oil spilled into the water from the ruptured barge.
Capt Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots chief, said the Coast Guard gave his crew "a small window" to let a few waiting ships into the channel during daylight after outbound ships started moving earlier in the day.
Coast Guard Capt Brian Penoyer, commander of the cleanup operation, has called the spill "significant." The Coast Guard also had several decontamination and inspection stations for ships entering and exiting the channel.
On a typical day, 60 to 80 large vessels, including tankers, freighters, containerships and cruise ships, and 300 to 400 tugs and barges move through the channel.
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