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The US Coast Guard has reported that the 800-foot tank ship Yasa Golden Dardanelles, which was grounded 22 miles off the Galveston coast, was successfully refloated yesterday after the transfer of over 80,000 barrels of low sulphur fuel oil.

Coast Guard personnel from Marine Safety Unit Galveston oversaw the lightering operation, which began on Monday, February 23rd 2009. The operation was successful in transferring more than 80,000 barrels of low sulphur fuel oil to the lightering vessel SPT Crusader.

"The transfer was conducted safely, ensuring personnel were not harmed, no pollution was released into the environment, and no damage sustained to either vessel," the US Coast Guard said in a statement.

Prior to entering the port, commercial divers will perform an underwater hull inspection of the tank ship. Naval engineers and inspectors from the ship's classification society will also examine the Yasa Golden Dardanelles.

The Yasa Golden Dardanelles had 26 crewmembers on board, and was carrying 621,000 barrels of low sulphur fuel oil when it became grounded on the north side of the Galveston Safety Fairway on Friday, February 20th 2009.

The tank ship did not discharge oil or impede other vessel traffic, according to the US Coast Guard.

A Unified Command, consisting of the following organizations, worked on the response effort:

* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
* Texas General Land Office
* United States Mineral Management Service
* Tower Navigation, Inc.
* Titan Salvage
* O'Brien's Response Management
* Marine Spill Response Organization
* SPT Inc.
* Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Galveston