Rusting oil tanker was 'stand-in' on Galapagos route

The oil tanker Jessica, which has unleashed ecological havoc on the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos islands for the past ten days, is a vintage rustbucket that replaced the usual tanker, Doris 1, which was sent for emergency repairs, the Ecuadorean press reported yesterday. Owned by Actomar, the Jessica does not normally ply this delivery route.

The oil tanker Jessica, which has unleashed ecological havoc on the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos islands for the past ten days, is a vintage rustbucket that replaced the usual tanker, Doris 1, which was sent for emergency repairs, the Ecuadorean press reported yesterday. Owned by Actomar, the Jessica does not normally ply this delivery route.

After running aground, the hull of the 28-year-old vessel could not withstand battering by breakers for three days. Only when fissures appeared in the cargo holds did the Ecuadorian government officials summon specialist help. Accident reports cite human error as the cause.

After heavy breakers subsided yesterday, Ecuadorean sailors tried to refloat the crippled ship, which has been trickling most of its 243,000 gallons of diesel and heavy bunker fuel into the waters off San Cristobal island. Their goal is to empty any fuel, on board, tow the vessel away from the harbour then sink it to the depths. Ironically the wreckage will provide an artificial reef attracting clusters of tropical fish.

Currents yesterday moved the oil slick offshore, as volunteers tended to pelicans, blue-footed boobies, seagulls and seals which had come in contact with the oil slick. Inflatable barriers are containing Wednesday's further spillage.

Park rangers, who reported the deaths of a pelican and a seal pup, were concerned it would be months before the spill's true impact could be determined on the islands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Santa Fe. To prevent introducing outside elements and provoking potential mutations, visitors are forbidden to step off pathways or even to bring raw fruit to these wildlife sanctuaries.

Police have arrested the tanker's captain, Tarquino Arevalo, and his 13 crewmen. The men face up to four years in prison for environmental abuse and recklessness. Captain Arevalo admits no naval charts were aboard the Jessica, which had no insurance.

The tanker is not the first vessel to have threatened the balance on the archipelago. Six years ago, ecologists denounced officials for allowing the Pacific Pintail to carry 14 tons of radioactive waste through the delicate waters.