From: pschmidt@convex.com (Perry Schmidt)
Subject: Re: Oil Tanker Grounding
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 17:10:25 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In article <1993Jan8.145002.10137@MorningStar.Com> dean@MorningStar.Com (Dean Schell) writes:
>Considering that we live in an age of high-tech communications I think
>that it is rather amazing that the wire service that provided the news
>to newspapers here in the US didn't report the above details.  In fact
>the stories here say that the crew is being investigated because they
>abandoned the tanker prior to any attempts to secure a tow line.  

That's interesting - the paper I read had the story very similar to the
report you were talking about - the crew tried to secure the ship, went back
on after it missed the island, etc.  I seem to get pretty good news...

And as such - Friday's Dallas Morning News says the following.  I unfortunately
do not have the papers from the previous days - this article is a bit less
complete than the previous ones.  (Please forgive typing errors - 
and this is reprinted w/out permission)


RESIDENTS NEAR OIL SPILL MAY BE FORCED TO LEAVE

Sumburgh, Shetland Islands - Local officials said Thursday that they
are preparing a plan to move residents away from areas affected by the
massive oil spill from the grounded tanker Braer.

The disclosure came as another day of stormy seas and skies kept salvage teams 
from boarding the ship, which ran aground Tuesday on the rocky coast of
southern Shetland Island, north of Scotland.

During the day, oil flowing form the single-hull vessel's ruptured tanks
spread into a 20-mile slick that was endangering salmon farms - and fish cages
in the sea - up the coast.  The salmon industry is the Shetlands' second 
biggest, after oil operations.  Some officials expressed the fear that smoked-
salmon buyers might avoid produce from the Shetlands.

Meanwhile, dead sea birds continued to wash up on the oil-soaked coastline and
some seals and otters appeared to be soaked.

The Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds estimate that as many as 2,000
birds may have died.  Some birds were movd to Scotland for cleaning.

The Braer went aground after losing engine power while en route from Norway to
Canada with 25 million gallons of light crude.  Authorities have not been able
to ascertain how much oil remains in the vessel's tanks.

DC-3 planes, which put down some detergent spray Wednesday to try to contain and
dissolve the Braer spill, did not fly Thursday because of the foul weather.  
Wild seas and gale winds blew an oily mist inland from the tanker, owned by the 
Braer Corp. of Liberia and managed by the B&H Ship Management Co. of New York.
The spray contaminated fields and left oil droplets in the air around the
wreck.

Martin Hall, an evnironmental official, said the oil-contaminated mist could
have a cancerous effect on human lungs, throats and stomachs.  Some farmers and
salvage workers reported developing sore throats and headaches.

Audrey Mullay, headmistress of the local elementry school, three miles from the
wreck, ordered her 180 students to remain inside during the day.  Some parents
kept their youngsters home while others sent them to stay with relatives at the
north end of Shetland Island.  "There is indeed cause for concern," Ms. Mullary
said, "but not panic."

Farmers debated whether to move sheep to the Scottish mainland because their
fields were becoming oily.

In the high winds, shephard dogs could not hear their masters' command to move
sheep to safety, farmers said.  Jackie MacGlaghlan, one herder, said: "Shetland
sheep have been the healthiest in the country.  We can't let them eat
contaiminated grass, so we may have to move them out of here."

--end of article--



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