NATION : Tanker Emptied, Awaits Refloating
Exxon crews today finished pumping the remaining crude oil out of the tanker Exxon Valdez in preparation for refloating and removing the source of North America’s worst-ever oil spill.
Exxon said it had finished transferring 48 million gallons of crude from the Exxon Valdez to three other ships. About 25 million gallons of oily waste water remained aboard the ship, which spilled more than 10 million gallons of crude into Prince William Sound when it struck a reef March 24. The company said crews will attempt to pump air into the hold and refloat the vessel off a reef at high tide Wednesday afternoon.
If freed, the still-leaking ship, which has eight holes about 20 feet long in its hull, will be towed to a remote and already fouled cove for repairs.
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