Ferry Spills Fuel in U.S. Virgin Islands

A passenger ferry that ran aground on a coral reef near the U.S. Virgin Islands has spilled half its fuel into the water, the U.S. Coast Guard. An estimated 350 gallons of diesel fuel escaped after the American Pride ferry hit Triangle Reef off St. Thomas on Saturday, said Ricardo Castrodad, a guard spokesman. The extent of any damage to Triangle Reef, which consists of three reefs popular among divers, was unknown because the 96-foot boat had yet to be removed, Castrodad said. The vessel was carrying 15 passengers to Tortola, in the nearby British Virgin Islands, when it ran aground. Nobody was injured. St. Thomas authorities were investigating the cause of the accident. A call to the ferry's owner was not immediately returned. Source: AP