Texas Oil Spill Shuts Down Major Shipping Channel

One of the busiest sea shipping routes in the country is closed Monday after two ships collided in the Houston Ship Channel.

The collision breached an oil tanker, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into the water. The federal coordinators didn't give a specific amount, buy they presumed the wreck spilled more than 4,000 barrels of oil.

Officials closed the busy waterway, leaving as many as 60 vessels with no way to get in or out.

Clean up crews are struggling to contain the spill, and the tar-like fuel is already spreading. Crews found oil 12 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental groups said the foggy weather isn't helping in the clean-up efforts. The channel has important shorebird habitat on both sides and tens of thousands of wintering birds are in the area.

Officials have not released a timetable for reopening the channel.