Galveston oil spill shuts down ferry, marine traffic

A barge ship is spilling oil in the Houston Ship Channel after colliding with a ship Saturday near Texas City, Texas. "It is an extremely serious spill," said Coast Guard Capt. Brian Penoyer. "There is a large quantity, it will spread." Coast Guard officials believe some 160,000 gallons of heavy oil have already spilled into the water. The barge contained 924,000 gallons of fuel oil. The barge was being towed by the Miss Susan from Texas to Bolivar at the time of the collision. All six crew members of the Miss Susan were accounted for and two were treated at the hospital for hydrogen sulfide exposure. The accident has shut down marine traffic in the channel from the Intracoastal Waterway to lighter buoy 32, as well as the Bolivar ferry.