Oil Spill Shuts Part of Savannah River

SAVANNAH, Ga. – An oil spill shut down a 12-mile stretch of the Savannah River and part of the Intracoastal Waterway on Monday, with oil visible from the Savannah area to the Atlantic beaches of Tybee Island.

The Coast Guard estimated about 5,000 gallons had been spilled.

Coast Guard crews were using large booms to try to corral and trap the oil, first reported at 6:40 a.m. The river runs along the Georgia-South Carolina line and is used by ships to access the Port of Savannah.

Coast Guard Cmdr. David Murk said at a news conference that investigators were still trying to determine the spill’s source and whether the oil came from a ship or a pipeline.

He said the spill didn’t appear to be growing, making it unlikely a ruptured pipeline was to blame.

Murk said the river could be closed to commercial ships for a day or longer, but added that “one of my biggest priorities is to get the port opened.”