Pollution fears spur calls for tanker checks

Press, 25 March 1980, Page 13

Pollution fears spur calls for tanker checks

From

KEN COATES

in London

Concern is mounting in Britain about the risk of large-scale oil pollution to beaches along the south coast unless rapid action is taken to keep a close check on tankers using the English Channel. After the breaking up of the 18,000-tonne tanker Tanio off the French coast, experts have suggested that pilot boats be stationed at both aoproaches to the Channel.

It would then become compulsory, provided Ihe scheme was officially backed, for evfery tanker captain to take on an experienced pilot to guide his ship through the Channel. This would ensure that they stuck to official traffic lanes and avoided taking short cuts. There is also a call for stricter inspection of tankers before they are granted seaworthiness certificates after repairs — and for old vessels to be scrapped. The Tanio was 23 years old when she broke in two.

Captain Michel Bougeard. who once

served in her said she was broken up by heavy seas that any tanker should have been able to withstand. He said she was already “a tired old shin” 10 years ago. Oil disgorged from the tanker is reported to be taking a heavy toll of seabirds on the coast of Brittany.

Already the death-toll of puffins, cormorants, arctic to be in the hundreds, and orinthologists fear the number could rise sharply in the next few weeks. Several bird hospitals have been set up on the French mainland, but because the Tanio’s oil was particularly' thick and heavy, attempts to clean the stricken birds are in many cases doomed to failure.

Mopping up continues along the pink granite coast, much favoured by tourists. But it is becoming clear that the local Bretons are showing a marked reluctance to volunteer to help the 1000 soldiers doing most of the work

After the Amoco Cadiz tragedy two years ago, the local people have had enough.