SUNK TANKER “PRESTIGE” WAS DUE TO BE SCRAPPED BY 2005

SUNK TANKER “PRESTIGE” WAS DUE TO BE SCRAPPED BY 2005

SUNK TANKER “PRESTIGE” WAS DUE TO BE SCRAPPED BY 2005

   The “Prestige,” a single-hull tanker that sank off the Spanish coast on Tuesday, was due to be scrapped by 2005, the International Maritime Organization said.

   Under a revised regulation of the IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), single-hull tankers built in 1976 are required to be scrapped in 2005.

   The “Prestige,” a vessel that flew the Bahamas flag, carried about 70,000 tons of oil.

   The oil spill has caused a political storm in Europe and calls for outdated tankers to be banned. Single-hull tankers are banned in the United States.

   The IMO said that its main concern now is to establish what went wrong in this case and to review its regulations to take action if necessary.