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- Path: sparky!uunet!dtix!darwin.sura.net!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!daemon
- From: lang@igc.apc.org (Andrew Lang)
- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Subject: SHETLAND OIL SPILL
- Message-ID: <1993Jan6.042043.21799@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Date: 6 Jan 93 04:20:43 GMT
- Sender: news@mont.cs.missouri.edu
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
- Organization: ?
- Lines: 25
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
-
- /* Written 7:03 pm Jan 5, 1993 by errlondon@gn.apc.org in igc:pn.alerts */
- /* ---------- "SHETLAND OIL SPILL" ---------- */
- The Iberian registered tanker "Braer" owned by B+H Ship
- Management Company from Stamford, Connecticut, US, laden with
- 85,000 tonnes of light Norwegian crude ran aground on the
- Southern tip of the Shetland Isles near Quendale Bay, Sumburgh
- Head (Tuesday) at 11.20 GMT today.
-
- The tanker was on route from Norway to Canada carrying oil for
- Ultramar, a British company, when its engines failed around
- 05.00. All efforts, in gale conditions, to restart engines
- and bring the tanker under control failed. As of 18.00 hours
- hurricane conditions are continuing at the site, the tanker is
- on the rocks with at least two holes in the hull. The rescue
- has been discontinued for the evening and weather conditions
- are not expected to improve until midday tomorrow when spill
- response efforts will hopefully be resumed.
-
- The area is one of the most important nesting sites in
- Northern Europe and although most of the migratory birds will
- be out at sea, extensive wildlife damage especially to seals
- and various bird species is expected. This spill is
- potentially the worst oil disaster in the UK since the Torrey
- Canyon in 1967 (119,000 tonnes) and could be twice as big as
- Exxon Valdez if all the oil is spilt.
-