Crippled tanker's oil leak threatens coast

Spain was facing a major ecological disaster today when another oil tank was reported to have cracked on the crippled tanker Prestige, leaking more oil into the Atlantic.

A three mile slick formed near the tanker which was positioned 80 miles off Spain’s north-west coast.

An earlier spill contaminated at least 60 miles of coastline yesterday. Emergency workers were trying to avert a much bigger disaster in case the tanker broke up and spilled the remaining 75,000 tons of fuel oil.

The Spanish government was today expected to approve paying €7m damages to around 1,000 fishermen and shellfish collectors.

The government banned fishing and mussel collecting in the affected area, known as the Coast of Death because of its frequent shipwrecks.

Patches of the slick had entered a sensitive 21 mile stretch between the rich shellfishing area of cape Finisterre and Malpica.

“We’ve increased the floating barriers to 11 miles, the skimmers are working and a French pollution-fighting ship is on its way to help us clean the spill. We are optimistic,” said an Interior Ministry spokesman last night.

The tanker’s Greek captain, Apostolus Maguras, was jailed without bail last night after five hours of questioning by a judge. He faces charges of resisting the authorities and harming the environment.

Maguras had been evacuated on Friday along with other crew members.

Spanish maritime authorities claimed he failed to cooperate with rescue crews after issuing a call for help on Wednesday evening. For hours as the Prestige drifted perilously close to shore, Maguras refused to let tugboats secure cables to his stricken ship, officials said.

A Netherlands-based international salvage company struggled to keep the 26-year-old Prestige intact in rough weather, while environmental groups warned of a potential ecological disaster if the tanker breaks up.

Several birds covered in oil were seen on the beaches of Muxia and Camarinas. Witnesses in the area said some parts of the sea were covered in a dark layer of fuel oil up to 15 inches thick on the rocky coastline.

Regional authorities banned fishing and shellfishing in the area.

Local residents expressed concern over the consequences the spill could have.