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06.04.2004
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the Prestige debacle
(March 2003)
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Reporting
in progress - expect updates
the politics of irresponsibility—
the Prestige, April 2004
eu committee and greece point finger at spain
At last, international pressure is growing over the Prestige
debacle and Captain Scapegoat Mangouras.
“[...] the
committee deplores the decision taken by the Spanish authorities
to tow the vessel away from the Galician coast. It voices concern at
the statement by the Spanish government commissioner, Mr
Fernández, that if an identical disaster were to happen the
same decision would be taken again. Although the sealing operation to
stop oil leaking from the wreck of the Prestige and the specific plans
for making the wreck safe are welcomed, the committee calls on the competent
authorities to continue their efforts to tackle the problem of the oil
still present in the sea and the thousands of tonnes of waste in landfills.
MEPs say the authorities should put forward a detailed calendar for
the extraction and the treatment of the waste.”
—
“It is still completely unclear how
much oil remains in the coastal waters of Galicia. Before the disaster,
there were 77,000 tonnes of heavy oil on board the Prestige. It is estimated
that 14,000 tonnes remain, some 43,000 tonnes having been washed up
and/or cleaned up, according to the Spanish authorities' statistics.
This still leaves 20,000 tonnes unaccounted for. MEPs voice deep concern
in their report that these 20,000 tonnes could still be a threat to
the marine environment and the coast. Moreover,
the captain estimated that 2,000-3,000 tonnes of fuel were shed immediately
after the initial damage to the Prestige, whereas the estimate of the
Spanish authorities was that approximately 10,000 tonnes were lost.”
Otherwise put, the Spanish authorities lied in order to lessen the amount
of unaccounted-for oil. Neither do I believe that 43,000 tonnes have been
cleaned up.
“The committee calls on the Spanish judicial authorities to allow
Captain Mangouras to return to his country pending his trial, to relax
the requirement that he report daily to the authorities and to clarify
as soon as possible the starting date and timetable for the legal case
against him. A delegation of the committee went to Barcelona in February
to meet the captain, as he was not given permission to appear before
Parliament at a public hearing.”
And
from Greece:
The ship’s Greek captain, Apostolos
Mangouras, was arrested immediately after the shipwreck and only
released on bail of 3 million euros. He has been banned from leaving
Spain. Greece has accused Spain of treating Mangouras as a scapegoat
for its own mistakes.
Now to see whether the incoming Spanish government has any better sense
of responsiblility and international civic duty. |
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