Archived press release

Sea empress - FOE criticises official report

8 October 1997

Friends of the Earth has published a critique of the official report into the Sea Empress oil tanker disaster which claims that a number of important questions as to the cause of the massive oil spill remain unanswered.

FOE's 18 page document [1] was produced in response to the invitation by John Prescott, Secretary of State for Environment, Transport & the Regions, for public comment following the publication of the controversial report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department of Transport (MAIB) last July.

In its response, FOE highlights seven areas of serious weakness in the report,including the failure to properly address the causes of the grounding or to investigate the navigational aids available at Milford Haven; and challenges a number of the report's findings on the role of the Department of Transport officials in the disastrous failure of the salvage operation.

Importantly, FOE explains that the report fails to acknowledge that the representatives of the Department of Transport intervened in the salvage operation and the true extent of the Secretary of State's powers of intervention.

Tony Juniper, Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth said:

“We are encouraged that the Government has seen fit to invite public comment on the MAIB report, particularly since they have backed down on promises to conduct an independent inquiry into the disaster. Our comments are freely available to the public and will help to expose the truth about what really went wrong at Milford Haven.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] Report of the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents Into the Grounding and Subsequent Salvage of the Tanker Sea Empress at Milford Haven between 15 and 21 February, 1996. Comments by Friends of the Earth. September 1997. Available on request from Friends of the Earth, 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ(020-7 490 1555).

The report by the MAIB was published on July 16th, 1997, seventeen months after the Sea Empress grounded on its entry into Milford Haven eventually spilling over 72,000 tonnes of crude oil during a protracted salvage operation.

The MAIB report was widely predicted to be a whitewash because the investigation was carried out by a branch of the same Government department (Department of Transport) that was involved in the salvage operation.

Since the pollution disaster occurred, Friends of the Earth have been gathering evidence for a prospective private prosecution of all those that it considers should be properly held responsible for the disaster. The Environment Agency have undertaken legal proceedings against the Milford Haven Part Authority and the Milford Haven Harbourmaster, but have not yet taken action against any government department or official.
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Summary of Friends of the Earth's comments on MAIB report:

. The report's suggestion that the approach should have been made along the lines of either of the leading lights is misconceived. The navigational aids at Milford Haven were not appropriate for use by the Sea Empressat the time of her entry on the evening of the initial grounding.

. The action suggested in the report that, on detecting that the vessel had been set off course, the pilot should have given a helm order of “at least 100 or 150", would not have been sufficient to avoid the grounding.

. The report has not addressed the important question of whether the Mid-Channel Rocks lightbuoy was correctly placed or in-place.

. The report's Finding that the casualty should not have been taken out to sea is incorrect and the reasons given for not doing so do not stand up to expert examination.

. The report attributes great significance to the outcome of the turning manoeuvre as a major factor in the loss of control of the casualty, but the report fails to acknowledge that control would have been lost in any event unless the casualty had been taken in to port or out to sea.

. The report fails to acknowledge that the representatives of the Department of Transport intervened in the salvage operation.

. The report fails to acknowledge the true extent of the Secretary of State's powers of intervention.


ENDS

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust