How serious is this spill compared to the Exxon Valdez spill 13 years ago?
The volume of oil on board is twice that of the Exxon Valdez, but things are not as bad in this case. The Valdez went aground in an enclosed area with little opportunity for the oil to disperse – the Prestige is in relatively open ocean. The Valdez spill occurred in a very cold climate which slowed the oil’s natural decay rate. In addition there have been a number of advances and lessons learnt in the years since Valdez. How much do these operations usually cost and who pays? It varies according to the circumstances. If the spill disperses and threatens limited areas then the clean-up bill might only run into a few million dollars. That is before taking into account compensation to fishermen, local councils and other affected groups, legal costs and fines. Insurance will cover some of the cost but the rest comes down to the individual company. The initial costs are usually borne by the nation the incident occurs in and are then reclaimed. Consortia of oil companies and tanker owners al
