The Prestige oil disaster

On November 13th 2002, the Liberian owned tanker, The Prestige, ran into trouble in heavy weather off the coast of Galicia. The 240 metre single-hulled ship had burst one its tanks and was starting to leak oil. The ships Greek captain called the Spanish authorities for aid but instead of the expected tow-in he was told to steer away from the coast and head North West. Similar responses were sent out from Spanish and Portuguese coastal authorities who were keen to see the foundering tanker kept away from their shores. This ship got into serious trouble on the sixth day of drifting when a 40 ft section of the hull came away; she split in two that afternoon spilling a huge amount of her 85,000 m