Pressure grows for establishing oil fund in Estonia

Prime Minister Ansip believes Liberian tanker is source of oil spill

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Pressure for finding the ship that caused the death of thousands of birds in Estonia increased on Thursday.
      Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip criticised the slow flow of information about the disaster. He also named the first ship suspected of a leak, the Liberian oil tanker Flawless.
     
The disaster on the north-west coast of Estonia last week has also boosted calls to establish an oil spill cleanup fund, such as Finland has.
      The Estonian Government debated the disaster and the establishment of such a fund late into the night on Thursday.
      The bill for establishing an oil disaster fund, proposed already earlier this year by the Ministry of the Environment, has been under serious debate, with opponents expressing concern that it would weaken the competitiveness of Estonia's harbours.
     
The money for cleaning up oil spills would be collected from tankers. An additional sum of EUR 0.05 per one tonne of oil would be added to the harbour fees. The price would be doubled for single-hulled vessels.
      The government discussed the sum of the payment on Thursday, but failed to reach an agreement. It is feared that the fee could especially hurt transit traffic.
      This week calls have come from citizens' organisations to the Minister of the Environment and others for the establishment of an oil spill fund.
      Under international agreements, Estonia should be able to clean up oil spills covering 4.5 square kilometres in 12 hours, but its current capacity is only 0.6 square kilometres.
      According to the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, seven vessels equipped to clear oil spills would be needed to meet the quota.
      One ship is currently in use, and another one will be finished in the spring.
      Minister of the Environment Villu Reiljan says that Estonia would need EUR 40 million for supervision, and 10 million for combatting spills over the next ten years.
      Currently the figures are missing a zero, says Reiljan.
     
The main suspect for the destruction of birds over the weekend is the oil tanker Flawless, which is now en route for Singapore under the Liberian flag.
      Andrus Ansip named the suspect, basing the accusation on unofficial sources.
      The Prime Minister also noted the slow passage of information related to the disaster.
      The Flawless had leaked oil onto its deck in connection with pumping two weeks ago Monday. It informed Estonian authorities about this the following Wednesday.
      According to the officials in charge of the investigation, the Flawless has been asked for oil samples, but there is not enough evidence to name only one suspect.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland soon to be able to fine ships for oil spills on high sea (2.2.2006)

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