Spanish Authorities Cleared in Prestige Spill

摘要

The environmental group, Greenpeace, has called a decision by a Spanish judge to clear Spanish authorities of responsibility in the 2002 sinking of the Prestige, and the subsequent massive oil spill, "unacceptable." The single-hulled tanker, owned by a Liberian corporation and registered in the Bahamas, disintegrated off the coast of northwest Spain in late November 2002, spilling up to 71,000 metric tons (21 million gallons) of heavy fuel oil. The fuel oil subsequently fouled miles of Spain's coastline, damaging fishing and tourist industries.