European Union publishes list of ships, oil tankers banned from its ports

The Associated Press

One year after a massive oil spill off Spain, the European Union on Nov. 14 published a list of ships banned from its waters and another of vessels given a final warning if they want to dock in EU ports again. The EU listed 10 ships already banned and 143 that will be if they do not improve safety.

The EU’s executive Commission also warned the 15 member states to provide full contingency plans for ship disasters by February or face legal action.

Among the 10 ships already banned, four come from Cambodia and most are bulk carriers. Of the vessels given a last warning, Turkey easily tops the bill with 41 ships

Under the rules, EU Transport Commissioner Loyola di Palacio said that disasters like those involving the Prestige last year near Spain and the Erica in 1999 near France would be less likely.

“Today, the Prestige and the Erika would not enter in European waters: From now on no tanker of this category can enter in our ports, nor transport heavy grades of fuel in single-hull tankers,” she said.

Last year, the 26-year-old Prestige tanker sank off Spain and disgorged most of its 77,000 tons of fuel oil onto the beaches of northern Spain and France.

In 1999, the Erika single-hulled tanker sank off the Atlantic coast of France, broke in two and spilled 10,000 tons of crude oil across French beaches.

The European Union has been phasing in restrictions on single-hulled oil tankers, which face a total ban from 2010. All single-hulled tankers older than 23 years are already forbidden.

The Commission also has warned member states to be better prepared for such disasters. It asked the EU nations to designate special refuge areas and emergency plans, but the replies have been poor so far.