Ships Pulled Apart

Two cargo ships were wrenched apart by tugboats Tuesday after being jammed together for three days since they collided in the Gulf of Mexico.

The bow of the empty Greek freighter Alexia had been embedded in the side of the Enif, a Singaporeflagged vessel carrying 1,500 tons of steel.

Salvage experts had been concerned because of heavy seas and rising wind, so crews worked through the night to cut away tangled metal, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jim Obernesser.

The ships were finally pulled apart by tugs.

“There were three tied off to the two vessels and they basically pulled them apart as if they were tows,” said Coast Guard Lt. Scott Weems.