There was a report on the TV news last night in which they showed Prince William Sound 13 years on. Salmon, seals etc. Nature, as they pointed out, has remarkable powers of recovery. However, they only had to turn over a stone to find a patch of (presumably bituminised) oil underneath. It's been absorbed into some of the porous rocks, I guess, and will last as long as they do - forever, virtually.

But none of this is an excuse. The ship was clearly unsuitable - single hulled - and single screw as well. I know this is standard practice on tankers (you'll never guess why - to save money) but it seems reprehensible to me. EVERYTHING should be duplicated in an ocean-going vessel. There must have been something seriously wrong with either the design or the condition of the hull to split open in a storm. Ships ought to be able to withstand what the sea can dish out!

And then, if it had been towed close inshore or even into a harbour, then the spillage would have been contained - or at least containable - and less coastline affected. Notwithstanding my previous post (before I was in full possession of the facts!) I am convinced now that this would have been the best option - especially for Spain!

When are we going to stop buggering up this world? It's the only one we've got!

Steve

>:-(