THE PLAN was to unload a crippled and leaking supertanker, containing 130 000 tonnes of oil, while tugs hung on to her through winter storms and one of the world's toughest tidal surges. It was all to be done close to one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and some of Britain's most prized coastal habitats. The plan failed.
As thousands of oiled birds are picked up from the beaches of South Wales this week, there is growing anger over the choice of strategy after the Sea Empress ran aground on the evening of 15 February. The ship was finally towed to a disused jetty at nearby Milford Haven six days later, having leaked an estimated 70 000 tonnes of her cargo.
In particular, there is anger that in the first hours after the ship ran aground, the government's Joint Response Centre and commercial salvors vetoed the recommendations of the ...
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