text: Suez Canal Officials Try to Keep Spill from Port (Reuters) Reuters - Egyptian Suez Canal authorities\are trying to direct a crude oil spill away from Port Said\where it could damage ships and equipment, a canal official\said on Friday. The official said the authorities were\attempting to direct the 20-km (13- mile) long slick, heading\north toward the port, to an empty waiting area normally used\by ships crossing the canal, where it could be dispersed using\chemicals.