Apostolos Magkouras, 77, captain of the tanker Prestige, which wrecked and spilled oil into the Mediterranean, causing environmental damage, has denied any responsibility for the accident, although he was charged with failing to properly check the tanker before its trip.
The wreck happened on Nov. 13, 2002 when the Greek-owned ship, under the flag of Bahamas, was carrying 70,000 tons of oil. During a storm, it asked for help by transmitting the S.O.S. signal. For the next six days it was wandering in the Atlantic with a cut on its side.
Then Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar’s government refused to allow the ship into port and a few days later, the tanker broke into two pieces and set off the oil leak that reached southern France, Spain and even Italy.
Magkouras stated in the court of La Corunia where he was being tried that he had seen some signs of erosion but that he didn’t have the expertise to know how bad it was. “We did all the necessary visual inspections on the ship before we left Saint Petersburg,” the captain claimed. Spanish prosecutors are seeking a 12-year jail term and 2,000 people have filled suits totaling 4 billion euros ($5.2 billion).
Environmental groups such as Greenpeace have asked for Spanish ministers to be tried as well, including current Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was Minister of Interior during the time of the accident.
(Source: in.gr)
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