Barge spills more than 9,000 gallons of oil into Narragansett Bay

PROVIDENCE - An oil barge spilled more than 9,000 gallons of its cargo into an ecologically sensitive area of Narragansett Bay on Wednesday, raising concerns about damage to shore birds and fragile habitats.

The Coast Guard believes the spill was caused when the barge, heading to a power plant in Somerset, Mass., collided with the tug boat that was towing it.

The 460-foot barge was carrying more than 10 million gallons of oil. It was ruptured about two miles from Prudence Island, home to the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Sanctuary.

''This is one of the most valuable areas in Narragansett Bay for marine life,'' said John Torgan of the environmental group Save The Bay. ''This is a very serious spill.''

Officials said most of the spill was contained, though oil had washed ashore by afternoon. Five swans found covered with oil were not expected to survive, Coast Guard officials said.

The Coast Guard planned to corral the oil along the shoreline during the night and begin cleaning it up Thursday.