A draft report of a U.K. Department of Transport report into the Sea Empress oil tanker spill in February 1996 allegedly claims that poor knowledge of sea conditions in the area worsened the spill.
However, the U.K. Coastguard Agency found the Sea Empress oil spill cleanup to be effective.
Leaked report
BBC Radio News in London disclosed it had received a "leaked" draft copy of a report by the transportation department's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which reportedly alleged bungling by harbor authorities.
The Sea Empress hit rocks near Milford Haven harbor, Wales, in bad weather. It was hauled off the rocks by salvage teams, only to be grounded twice more.
What at first looked like being a comparatively minor spill was turned into one of the U.K.'s largest oil spills, with more than 70,000 metric tons of crude oil lost (OGJ, Feb. 26, 1996, p. 34).
Bungled response?
The report allegedly found that Milford Haven harbor authorities had insufficient knowledge of tides and water depths in the area, which led to inaccurate information being passed to pilots and salvage teams, which in turn led to the amount of oil spilled rising dramatically.
Captain Peter Marriott, MAIB's chief inspector of marine accidents, said the Sea Empress report as it stands is not complete and that it may be modified in the light of new information from individuals consulted.
"The draft report on the Sea Empress has been circulated in confidence under these procedures," said Marriott. "I very much regret that this confidence has not been honored.
"It is unfair to those involved with the incident to assume that any material said to come from the draft will, in fact, represent the eventual findings and recommendations of my final report."
The report of MAIB's inquiry into the Sea Empress spill is expected to be published in the fall.
Coastguard report
Meanwhile, the Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU) of U.K.'s Coastguard Agency has published less controversial findings.
MPCU's report, published Jan. 9, concerned cleanup operations following the Sea Empress spill. Despite the scale of the accident, MPCU reported that the spill response teams proved effective.
"The grounding of the Sea Empress released 72,000 metric tons of crude oil," said Coastguard Agency, "making this incident the third largest in U.K. coastal waters and among the 20 largest spills ever.
"Allowing for evaporation, there was potential for 43,000 metric tons of oil to come ashore. Thanks to aerial spraying of dispersants and recovery of some oil at sea, only about 3,000-5,000 metric tons of oil reached the shoreline.
"Although 200 km of shore line was affected by oil, the main tourist beaches were substantially clear and usable by Easter. Most of the other beaches and coves were cleared of conspicuous oil by the late summer holiday season."
Copyright 1997 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
