Fog lifts, lets oil ships into some US Gulf ports

HOUSTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) – A siege of fog that has halted shipping at several ports along the U.S. Gulf Coast broke on Saturday, allowing some ships carrying crude oil and refined products to move, ship pilots said.

“We had approximately 10 inbound, and we sailed about 16 outbound,” a Houston ship pilots dispatcher said, noting not all of the ships were tankers.

“We still have a backlog of 35 to 40.”

Fog, common this time of year, has been a problem along the central and western Gulf Coast since Wednesday, halting shipping for extended periods. Intermittent fog was forecast at least through Monday.

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