Gordon Smith News

Twelve U.S. lawmakers asked that President Bill Clinton, who has only two days left in office, re-impose a ban on exports of Alaskan crude oil in order to protect consumers on the United States' West Coast from high gasoline prices. In a letter to Clinton, the lawmakers cited recent news reports that BP Amoco exported Alaska North Slope crude to reduce supplies on the West Coast and raise oil prices in the region. The lawmakers making the export ban request include Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith of Oregon, Barbara Boxer of California and Patty Murray of Washington. The lawmakers said secret oil company documents show that BP shipped Alaska crude to Asia even though the company earned less profit on the exported oil than it would have if it sold the same oil in West Coast markets.

K-Sea Transportation Partners LP said it's buying Sirius Maritime LLC of Seattle and Smith Maritime Ltd. of Honolulu for $205m. New York-based K-Sea is buying 11 petroleum tank barges and 10 tugboats in the deal. The ships have 777,000 barrels of capacity. Sirius Maritime is owned by Gordon Smith, Robert Dorn and Wayne Sundberg. Smith also owns the Honolulu operation. K-Sea said it's paying $195m in cash and assumed debt and is issuing $10m in common stock for the companies, adding the deal should close in July or early August. Source: BizJournals