Houston ship channel reopens after hazmat removed from Maersk tanker

Houston ship channel reopens after hazmat removed from Maersk tanker

THE Houston Ship Channel has been reopened after salvage crews removed the hazardous material from the damaged 45,000-dwt chemical tanker Carla Maersk after a collision with a 57,000-dwt bulker resulting in a flammable oil spill.

Crews finished removing the liquid cargo from the tankers two breached tanks early Thursday morning, reported American Shipper. The partial removal of the methyl tertiary ether was necessary before the ship could be moved, they said. 

High-density foam was used to suppress flammable gases leaking from the tanks with air monitoring showing no sign of vapours seeping from the ship.