Houston Ship Channel remains closed after tanker, bulk carrier collide, chemical leaks

A portion of the Houston Ship Channel remains closed after two 600-foot ships collided a day earlier, causing some leakage of a flammable liquid.

The Coast Guard says a gasoline additive aboard a chemical tanker is no longer leaking and crews are assessing how much spilled Monday. It's been identified as methyl tert-butyl ether — or MTBE. No injuries were reported.

Petty Officer Andy Kendrick says the Liberian bulk carrier Conti Peridot had been moved from the collision site, but the Danish-flagged Carla Maersk will remain in the channel until decisions are made about what to do with its chemical cargo. He said that won't happen until after daybreak Tuesday.

The Coast Guard says air-quality monitoring determined fumes were present but they were below toxic levels.