The Shetland Oil Disaster: Oil pours out of tanker as strong winds and seas hinder clean-up

High winds and huge seas almost halted operations to contain and clean the oil pouring out of the tanker Braer and spreading around the coastline of Shetland yesterday.

Gales are likely to prevent any real progress today, and salvage experts have yet to board the wrecked but still intact Braer to provide a reliable estimate of how much cargo remains.

Pollution control DC 3 Dakota aircraft at Sumburgh were unable to spray chemicals over the oil because low- level flying was too dangerous. A helicopter crew tried to spray dispersant on the heavy fuel oil leaking from the Braer but made no detectable impact.

Winds backed round to the south and pushed the oil up the western coast of the mainland. A sheen - a very thin surface layer of light oils - has spread more than 16 miles north.

The slicks in which the oil is mixed with seawater have spread up to six miles north; around Sumburgh Head, the southernmost tip of Shetland; and have started up the eastern coast. It is not a continuous slick. One beach can appear pristine while another a few hundred yards away is covered in oil.

The sheen has reached the first of the salmon farms in Clift Sound. Council workers last night completed an 800-ton rock barrier to protect farms along the west coast.

It has been decided that chemical dispersants cannot be sprayed anywhere near the farms, the islands' second biggest industry, for fear of contamination. Plans to float booms to keep the oil at bay were frustrated by rough weather.

Booms were floated to protect sea lochs which are home to many birds. But more than 250 dead seabirds have been found on the beaches and 45 live birds will be sent to Fife to be cleaned.

B & H Ship Management, Braer's operators, said last night that a specially-equipped barge owned by the salvage company Smit-Tak would sail tonight from Rotterdam to pump oil from the vessel. Tony Redding, a spokesman, said it was due to arrive on Sunday and begin recovering crude if the weather moderated.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union pressed yesterday for the Marine Accident Investigations Branch inquiry to be widened to focus on all aspects of the international shipping industry. The union said that the mainly Filipino crew of the Braer had complained to the International Transport Workers' Federation last year about overwork, poor conditions and low pay.

Meanwhile, there was confusion about the potential danger from the crude oil's fumes which have given some islanders sore eyes and throats. Shetland Island Council drew up contingency plans to evacuate the island early yesterday. But officials emphasised later that high winds were rapidly dispersing fumes and there was no danger to health.

B & H Ship Management said last night that they had no information to confirm a report that the tanker was seen near where it broke down about five hours before it sent an emergency to coastguards.

The crew of a mackerel boat, Stephens, said yesterday that they had passed a large ship in the Fair Isle Channel under way at about 11.45pm on Monday. There is no record of any other tanker being there then.

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(Photograph omitted)