OIL SPEWING INTO NORTH SEA

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 6, 1993                   TAG: 9301060216
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO   
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS                                LENGTH: Short
OIL SPEWING INTO NORTH SEA
Howling winds and rough seas slammed a tanker onto rocks off the Shetland Islands on Tuesday and frustrated efforts to contain oil gushing into waters teeming with marine and bird life.
The accident threatened to become one of worst oil spills and a major environmental catastrophe.
The nearly 25 million gallons of oil on the U.S.-managed tanker was more than double the amount the Exxon Valdez disaster dumped into Alaskan waters in 1989. Last month, a Greek tanker ran aground off northwestern Spain, spilling 21.5 million gallons of crude oil.
All 34 crew members were evacuated by helicopter after the Liberian-registered tanker Braer lost power in the North Sea. The ship ran aground on the chain's largest island, Mainland, about five hours later as several crewmen who returned tried to attach tow lines.
Fearing an explosion, police sealed off the southern tip of Mainland, part of the sparsely populated North Sea island group.
Experts said the spill threatened thousands of puffins, loons, gulls and eider ducks.
"Questions must be asked why a single-hulled tanker which is banned around sensitive coastlines in other countries is allowed to be in one of Britain's most vulnerable sites for marine wildlife," said Nancy Harrison of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Most tankers now are built with double hulls in an attempt to prevent spills.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB