More than ten years after one of Europe’s worst environmental disasters, the ship’s crew and a high level Spanish maritime official have been acquitted of most charges related to the Prestige oil spill. The captain of the vessel was sentenced to nine months in jail for resisting efforts to have the ship towed away from the coast.
Spain and France have already announced they will appeal the decision in an effort to recover some of the clean up costs of more than 5 million euros. The affected countries had hoped for damages in the range of 4 billion euros to be awarded. Earlier in November, Judge Juan Luis Pia told the press that he felt there were more people who needed to be held responsible for the spill, politicians who were in charge at the time and non-policy makers, including the directors of the shipping company. In his statement the judge predicted an appeal to the Supreme Court. That appeal was announced on 18 November 2013.
The Prestige spilled 63,000 tonnes of fuel oil, affecting nearly 3,000 kilometers of Spanish, Portuguese and French coastline in November 2002. At least 23,000 birds were oiled, with Eurasian otters, dolphins and sea turtles also affected. International oiled wildlife responders were active for several months during the initial spill. Oil leaking from the sunken ship caused a second wave of oiling in May 2003.
Sources:
Judge regrets “missing people” at 2002 Prestige oil disaster trial. El Pais. accessed online 11.13
Spain to appeal for damages over Prestige oil spill. Global Post. accessed online 11.13
French, Spanish appeals due after oil spill acquittal Global Post. accessed online 11.13