On 12 December 1999 tanker Erika broke in two about 75km off the coasts of Brittany leaking 20,000 tons of heavy fuel oil into the sea. Two weeks later, the spill was spread by a storm contaminating 400 km of coastline. France’s worst oil disaster killed more than 150,000 seabirds. The 26-member crew was successfully rescued by helicopter.
In February 2007, 15 defendants were put on trial. Among them were Rina, the Italian company that certified Erika seaworthy, and French oil company Total.
Now, in a historic and the first ruling of its kind in France, a Paris court has convicted Total of “maritime pollution” even though the company did not own the ship. Despite denying responsibility, Total will have to pay about 200 million euros in damages and has been fined about 400,000 euros. Rina has also been fined about 400,000 euros because it certified the vessel was in good state when it was not. One of the ship owners, Giuseppe Savarese, will also have to pay about 80,000 euros.
Total is considering appealing the verdict on the grounds that international oil pollution conventions do not usually permit charges on parties other than ship owners or their insurers, which are exposed to greater liability.
The four-month trial reflects the complexity of international shipping and maritime safety regulations.
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BBC News Online
Is this the one tanker that sent out a radio signal that it needed to put into port to do some emergency repairs. Portugal even sent out a GUNBOAT to make sure it does not put into port in Portugal. The ship then broke in TWO. Maybe the Portugal government should be blammed for the spill!