Oil Tanker Hits Bridge, Spills

A Liberian tanker, the Julie N, hit the Million Dollar Bridge Friday morning, cutting a gash in its hull and spilling 170,000 gallons of heating oil and the boat’s own heavy fuel into the seafood-rich Portland Harbor.

The bridge was closed to traffic Saturday and the harbor remained closed to all but cleanup vessels. The Coast Guard said until the area is cleared of oil and tests prove the seafood is safe, fishing, lobstering and shellfishing will be forbidden.