Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Port prepares for approaching oil sheen at SW Pass

POSTED: 03:53 PM Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Officials with the Port of New Orleans say a “light to medium” oil sheen is forecast to reach Southwest Pass at mouth of the Mississippi River by Thursday morning.

The pass is where many cargo ships enter the river from the Gulf of Mexico, and port officials expect oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak to affect the area for at least the next two days.

Ships will be subjected to inspection before entering the pass, according to a statement from the port. Cleaning stations are set up at Boothville and Burwood, although ships “moving at a safe pace through light oil sheen may not require cleaning,” according to the release.

Response crews have been attempting to contain the damage from the oil slick that has threatened the Gulf Coast since the April 20 explosion of the semi-submersible rig 50 miles from the Mississippi Delta.

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