Toxics Action against Byzantio in Rotterdam

Greenpeace activists attempt to occupy the single-hulled oil tanker 'Byzantio', sister ship of the 'Prestige', a single hull tanker that polluted the Galician coast last month. Greenpeace is highlighting the fact that the vessel is unsafe with its cargo of 50,000 tons of oil. Activists climb the infamous 'floating dustbin' and hang a banner, which reads 'oil hazard' on board. Other activists are set to paint the same words on the hull of the ship. The action comes in the run-up to the Transport, Energy and Telecommunications EU Council Ministers' meeting in Brussels. They are expected to announce measures for improving maritime safety to reduce the risk of accidents. On December 12 and 13 the EU Heads of Government will meet and will be discussing the issue of maritime safety. On December 3rd, the European Commission requested that member states speed up the implementation of safety measures adopted after the Erika oil spill three years ago. But these measures will not be sufficient to prevent another disaster, says Greenpeace. The EU Commission also published a list of 66 vessels that have been classified as "highly dangerous", ironically, neither the disastrous Prestige, nor the Byzantio appear on this list. Greenpeace is demanding full and unlimited liability throughout the chain of responsibilities, including the owners, managers and operators of a vessel and of any charterers or owners of the cargo. Additionally, Greenpeace is demanding that the EU immediately ban the use of single hulled tankers and exclude ecologically sensitive areas from shipping routes.