Ship Channel reopens after spill

GALVESTON – The U.S. Coast Guard has authorized limited use of the Houston Ship Channel previously closed because of an oil spill, officials said Tuesday.

Although cleanup efforts continue, ships are being cleared to move through the channel by a Port Coordination Team and barges have been allowed to resume operations, according to a statement issued by the Texas City Y Response Unified Command.

The statement said assessment teams have deemed the water in the channel clear of oil.

"The cleanup operations progress is to the point that there is minimal danger of contamination to the commercial maritime traffic and allowing limited transit during daylight hours," said Capt. Brian Penoyer, captain of the port for Houston/Galveston.

Commercial traffic bound for local ports had been at a standstill since Saturday, when a barge carrying heavy marine fuel oil collided with a ship. Shipping operations were suspended immediately after the accident to prevent vessels from spreading the oil and getting it stuck to their hulls.

The accident occurred at the confluence of the Houston Ship Channel, intracoastal waterway and the Texas City Channel - the "hub" of the marine spokes serving major Houston area ports.

The collision led to the spill of an estimated 168,000 gallons of the heavy oil into the channel. It spread into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and crews are continuing to work to contain and recover the oil.