Oil pollution catastrophe may have been averted

A HIGH-LEVEL report has revealed a major pollution catastrophe was possibly averted off the west coast of Ireland last year when an oil tanker was forced to divert to Donegal following a double tragedy on board.

The marine investigation has recommended the permanent position of an emergency towing vessel (ETV) and oil pollution response vessel on the western seaboard following the bizarre incident in January 2003.

At that time, the storm-lashed Princess Eva arrived in Killybegs to land two bodies after an on-deck accident.

An initial survey of the Panamanian-registered tanker showed it was unseaworthy and a potential hazard to the marine environment. Fractures were found on the decks of the 211-metre, Japanese-built ship carrying 56,000 tonnes of vacuum gas oil. The ship, with a largely Argentine crew, was en route from Copenhagen to Texas, via the north coast of Ireland, when it encountered bad weather.

While trying to secure a liferaft on deck, two men lost their lives and a third was later airlifted to Galway University Hospital with horrific injuries.

A report conducted by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) said the Government should give consideration to the provision of an oil pollution response vessel with the capability of at-sea treatment and recovery of oil slicks.

The MCIB suggested both the functions of an ETV and pollution response could be combined in a single purpose-built vessel.

However, a report published in 1999 on pollution preparedness had already recommended the State should purchase an emergency towing vessel or tug. Former Marine Minister Frank Fahey had secured Cabinet approval in 2000, but the matter was subsequently put on hold.

The MCIB report, released at the weekend, said the quick actions of the authorities during the Princess Eva emergency possibly prevented oil pollution disasters which France and Spain had experienced in recent years.

The recommendations also urged the Government to further engage with, and strongly support, current efforts within the IMO, EU and other international forums to achieve worldwide consensus and implementation on improved quality of all tankers through special hull surveys and condition assessment schemes.

The report concluded: “If a hull fracture had occurred off the west coast, the resultant spill had the potential to be on a scale similar to that of the Erika or Prestige” - major oil pollution disasters off France and Spain a year earlier.