Science · 2002 · 15 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMarine EngineeringOcean EngineeringCoastal EngineeringMarine EcologyPhysical OceanographyCoastal FloodingCoastal HazardsMarine PollutionOffshore SafetyOil Spill ImpactsOil Spill PollutionFuel Oil SystemsOil Spill FateOil Spill PreventionOil Spill Risk AssessmentOil Spill TransportPetroleum SpillsSpill Risk AssessmentTanker Safety
MARINE ECOLOGYVIGO, SPAIN-- A week ago, the hull of the tanker Prestige tore open and began disgorging a cargo of fuel oil off the Spanish coast; then on 19 November, fearsome, wind-whipped waves overwhelmed the stricken tanker, which ripped in half and sank. So far, 10,000 tons of oil are known to have leaked. The challenge for scientists is to predict what will happen to another 67,000 tons that went down with the ship and how it might harm life on the seabed.