Coast Guard: Vessels involved in Texas oil spill separated without additional oil leak

Coast Guard: Vessels in Texas oil spill separated

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A Coast Guard spokesman says an 800-foot oil tanker and towing vessel that collided Saturday spilling oil in a southeast Texas port have separated without more oil being spilled.

Petty Officer Richard Brahm says the tide lifted the vessels during the night and they separated at 12:17 a.m. Sunday. He says no additional oil was spilled in the water, but it’s still not clear how much is in the water and how much remains in the tanker.

Brahm says the hole in the tanker was near the water line, so there’s plenty of space underneath where oil could still be stored.

About 450,000 gallons of oil has yet to be accounted for.

Brahm says cleanup of spilled oil continues Sunday. The spill has been contained to a 2-mile area.