OREANDA-NEWS. An oil spill at the Vopak terminal in Los Angeles has halted loading operations there, sources said.

Thursday morning the US Coast Guard received reports that an unknown quantity of "oily-water mixture" was leaking from a holding tank at the Vopak Terminal in Long Beach.

Loading activity is currently suspended at the Vopak terminal due to clean up response, said a bunker trader. The trader expected vessel loading to be suspended through Saturday.

Approximately 98pc of the spill was contained on the pier but an unknown quantity had entered the water, said the Coast Guard. Oil skimmers and absorbent pads have been deployed in the area.

The 47,000 dwt product tanker Tula is currently moored at the terminal and is now confined to port pending decontamination. A containment boom has been placed around the TULA as a precaution against further spread of the spill.