Oil Tanker Slightly Damaged in Mishap
A loaded Exxon oil tanker collided with a dredge Sunday after its bow snagged an anchor cable while entering the Port of Long Beach, the Coast Guard disclosed Wednesday.
The 900-foot Exxon North Slope scraped against the dredge Florida despite evasive steering action by the tanker crew, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Paul Larson, head of the agency’s investigation section in Long Beach.
The tanker’s right side suffered minor damage, with no oil spillage or injuries. Four remaining anchors held the 490-foot dredge in place.
The tanker proceeded to a berth to discharge its load of crude oil from Valdez, Alaska. Divers inspected the ship’s hull after docking and found no indication of punctures.
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