HOUSTON, March 25 (Reuters) - The Houston Ship Channel hasre-opened for inbound ship traffic, the head of the HoustonPilots said on Tuesday.
Capt. Clint Winegar said the U.S. Coast Guard gave thepilots "a small window" to allow some inbound traffic to moveinto the channel during daylight hours.
The Coast Guard first allowed outbound traffic to moveearlier on Tuesday to help clear out space for inbound ships.
Winegar said both inbound and outbound traffic will stop at6 p.m. CDT and resume at 7 a.m. CDT on Wednesday.
The ship channel, a crucial waterway for oil shipments tothe Houston-area refining hub, was shut on Saturday after an oilbarge collided with a cargo ship, spilling about 4,000 barrels,or 168,000 gallons (636,000 liters), of residual fuel oil. (Reporting By Kristen Hays. Editing by Andre Grenon)