The tanker contains several thousand barrels of gasoline, according to Mobil spokeswoman Anna Schulze, who said a final decision has not been made to bring it to Guam.

Schulze said Mobil wants to ensure the safety of the ship, which she said was loaded with gasoline in Singapore, and currently is in Saipan. The ship picked up gasoline in Saipan as well, she said.

The island's port has been closed because of the ongoing fire at the Mobil tank farm, but Guzman said officials plan to unload gasoline from the ship with the assistance of the Navy.

"But it's a slow, slow process," Guzman said, adding it might take a week for the island's fuel supply to return to normal.

The fire, which started Sunday during Supertyphoon Pongsona, burned two Mobil fuel storage tanks to the ground, and set another tank ablaze.

The fire has prevented oil companies from getting to gasoline stored in nearby tanks, creating a shortage of gasoline. The island has ample supplies of jet fuel and diesel fuel, which are stored in tanks a safe distance from the fire.

A task force of government and oil company representatives has halted all gasoline sales to the general public. Gasoline is available only to vehicles on a government-approved list -- $10 in gas for sedans and $20 in gas for trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Guam Fire Department Chief Felix Sablan said he believed the blaze at the tank farm would be extinguished sometime last night.

He said Mobil fuel fire experts have examined the burning diesel tank and determined it is unlikely to rupture before it burns itself out.

Governor's spokesman John Ryan said once the fire is out, it will be at least three days before the area will be safe enough to enter.

The ban on gasoline sales to the general public continued yesterday, but some service stations are selling diesel fuel. Some types of cars, trucks and generators run on diesel.

Shell Guam Inc. yesterday started selling diesel fuel to retail customers at the company's Yigo, Tumon and Harmon stations. Those stations will be open 24 hours a day to sell diesel fuel only, the company said in a written statement.

Mobil announced its Tamuning, Y-Sengsong and Agat Bay stations will open at 9 a.m. today for diesel sales only. The company did not state when the stations will close.

Officials from South Pacific Petroleum Corp., which operates the 76 service stations, did not return a call for comment, but several 76 locations were open for diesel sales yesterday morning.

In order to conserve gasoline and to help the public during the gas shortage, the government of Guam, with the help of hotel and business organizations, is putting together an islandwide mass transit system using school buses, Guzman said.

Once the service starts, it will continue until the islandwide fuel situation returns to normal, even if gasoline sales resume during the next few days, Guzman said.

Shuttle services

The military and some businesses already have started shuttle services for their workers.

Employees from two of the island's largest clinics -- the Seventh-day Adventist Clinic and PacifiCare Health Center -- are sharing a shuttle bus to take employees to and from work.

Patrick Bulaon, marketing and public relations manager for PacifiCare, said the diesel-powered bus is provided by SDA, as part of an agreement between the two clinics.

But even that might not be enough relief from the gasoline crisis, and Bulaon said PacifiCare plans to scale back its dental clinic services to emergency cases only.

PacifiCare also needs gasoline for vans to carry its nurses to homebound patients, Bulaon said. Unless gasoline starts flowing, those patients might have to move to the hospital or to the long-term care facility in Barrigada, Bulaon said.

The Navy yesterday started operating a new shuttle system using 25 DoDEA school buses, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Thurraya Kent.

The bus system, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., is available to anyone who normally has access to the base, including military personnel and their families, civilian workers for the military and contractors.

The buses travel through each village, picking up and dropping off at the mayors' offices and large population areas, such as apartment complexes. Passengers change buses at the Agana Shopping Center or at the Micronesia Mall.

Bus schedules are available on the base and at military mini-marts, or by calling 339-8193.

Kent said the shuttle buses are in addition to the regular sailor transit system, which is primarily used by single sailors.

"If you have base access and need to get to work, ... we are encouraging you to use this bus system," Kent said.

While those with base privileges can use the bus to go shopping at the commissary, for example, Kent said the bus schedule is tailored primarily around a work schedule.

"So it may not be as convenient for someone in that situation," she said.

The Air Force also started a shuttle system yesterday, using Air Force buses, but the system is more limited than the Navy shuttle system.

Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Kim Melchor said the Air Force shuttle is intended only to drive mission- essential personnel, military and civilians, to the base to work.

"We're running that through town -- three or four different buses in the morning and a few in the evening hours," Melchor said.