An oil tanker blown onto rocks off Devon has been refloated, averting a potential pollution accident.

The 22,000-ton Santa Anna went aground on rocks near Torbay as strong winds battered the west coasts of Britain and Ireland.

The BBC's West of England correspondent Stephen Cape reports. "Disaster averted" (Dur 1'09")

The Panamanian-registered ship, with a crew of 29, had been anchored in Torbay but was driven onto nearby Thatcher's Rock by gale-force winds.

The grounding had sparked fears from environmentalists and locals in the popular tourist area, which is known as the English Riviera.

Far Minara, a coastguard tug, was sent from Falmouth, Cornwall, to Torbay to help rescue the Santa Anna, which had 270 tonnes of diesel fuel and 50 tonnes of lubricating oils on board.

The English Riviera is one of the most popular in Britain

Rocks punched three holes into the sides of the Santa Anna which had no cargo on board. Maritime experts are assessing the ship's damage before deciding where it should be sent for repairs.

Emergency workers had pumped the fuel into higher level storage tankers on the ship to minimise the risk of leakage into the sea.

Coastguard spokesman Mark Clark said: "The weather was pretty appalling. It blew the vessel for about two miles. We had a helicopter and lifeboat on standby in case the crew need to be taken off."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said Torbay was an important winter haven for sea birds and other marine wildlife.

Guillemots and razorbills are particularly common in the area.

RSPB head of policy, Phil Rothwell, said: "If the fuel oil on board the vessel had spilled out, then both the wildlife and marine habitats will be seriously threatened."

Second drama

Meanwhile a British tug, the Anglian Prince, is escorting a badly listing cargo ship to Liverpool.

The 13,000-ton Oak got into difficulties in the Western Approaches 340 miles west of Fastnet Rock en route from Canada with its cargo of timber.

Falmouth coastguard said there were 60mph winds and "very rough seas" in the area.

The crew of 26 Greek and Filipino seamen are not believed to be in any immediate danger but a Royal Navy frigate, HMS Norfolk, was standing by in Plymouth, in case a rescue needed to be mounted.

The Oak developed a 40 degree list 800 miles from her destination but the crew managed to reduce the list to nine degrees by jettisoning some deck cargo.

The original Severn Bridge linking England and Wales was closed on Thursday afternoon as 45mph gales lashed the area.

The QE2 bridge over the Thames at Dartford, Kent was also shut with traffic diverted through the two Dartford tunnels.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©