UK: TANKER ANCHORAGES COMPOUND POLLUTION THREAT
The threat of major pollution from spillage or an oil tanker foundering is being compounded by the large numbers of fully laden tankers lying at anchorages around Britain. At one anchorage off the S W Coast over ten vessels are lying up waiting for oil prices and demand to pick up.
The Celtic League are asking the United Kingdom Department for Transport what additional contingency plan's are in place to deal with any threat posed (see below).
"Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
Dear Minister,
I write to express concern that significant numbers of fully laden oil tankers are `lying up' in anchorages around the United Kingdom. I have read (for example) of significant numbers of such vessels anchored off the coast of Devon. Can I ask if the DfT have an accurate inventory of the number of vessels and the tonnage of crude oil carried at anchorages around the UK?
I do not have to remind you of the significant damage that has been sustained environmentally over the past thirty years by the foundering or accidental spillage of bulk fuel oil from oil tankers around the British Isles and on the French and Spanish Atlantic coasts.
Could we ask if significant resources, both in terms of spillage containment and oil dispersal, are available close to such anchorages? Can you also advise if suitable emergency towing capacity is on hand?
When such events occur government agencies around the British Isles are often stretched to meet the remedial requirements of the emergency. Could you therefore advise if significant additional capacity has been provided to meet any emergency?
Finally, bearing in mind that spillage off the West of Britain or in the SW Approaches can pose a threat to several EU countries, could you advise if there has been any discussion at EU level about the potential dangers posed?
For information, I would advise that our General Secretary will be writing to the EU Commissioner with responsibility for this area to re-iterate our concerns.
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt Director of Information"
See related links and video here:
(voir le site) -waiting-world-prices-rise.html
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
25/04/09
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