Tanker clampdown threat

Date: 13/01/2000

By Renée Cordes and Gareth Harding

TRANSPORT Commissioner Loyola de Palacio is threatening to clamp down on sub-standard oil tankers following last month's slick off the French coast, which caused extensive ecological damage.

At a meeting with the head of French oil giant TotalFina this week, De Palacio floated the idea of a voluntary industry accord aimed at ensuring high safety standards for ships which transport petroleum and other dangerous substances across EU waters. But officials warned that if industry failed to police itself properly, the Commission would draw up proposals for Union laws laying down strict and binding maritime safety requirements.

"The Commissioner wants to move quite quickly on this," said a spokesman this week, adding that De Palacio was aiming to unveil a communication outlining her approach in time for a March meeting of EU transport ministers.

But France's plea for financial help from Brussels is likely to fall on deaf ears as there is no specific EU fund to help countries clean up environmental disasters and restore polluted sites.

Last month, the Maltese-flagged tanker Erika broke in two, releasing a slick of fuel oil which polluted Breton beaches over Christmas, affecting 300,000 birds and other wildlife and threatening the region's tourism industry.

TotalFina, which chartered the tanker, has already pledged more than €6 million in emergency funds to clean beaches affected by the spill. But French officials are also pressing the firm to invest in an advertising campaign to support tourism in the area. The oil company denies that it is legally liable for the damage, arguing that the ship owners should be held responsible.

Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio is threatening to clamp down on sub-standard oil tankers following the recent slick off the French coast, which caused extensive ecological damage.