VALDEZ, Alaska — Work crews refloated the grounded tanker Exxon Valdez almost two hours ahead of schedule today, and the ship that caused North America's worst oil spill was hauled toward an oil-fouled island 25 miles away for temporary repairs.
The Coast Guard said the 987-foot tanker was pulled off a reef and refloated at 10:35 a.m., two hours before high tide. Six tugboats took part in the operation.
