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As stormy waves crash over its super-structure and funnel, the Liberian-registered MV Braer oil tanker spills 84,700 tonnes of crude oil into the North Sea. It sits below its water-line with crude oil leaking from its ruptured tanks after running ground in hurricane force winds, beeching itself on these rocks in Quendale Bay, west of Sunburgh Head, the Shetland Islands, Scotland. In fast-fading light, this ecological disaster occured in a beautiful region of Great Britain affecting much native wildlife although the Gulfaks oil the Braer was carrying is lighter therefore more biodegradable and able to disperse better than other North Sea crude.

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Filename: RB_028-07-01-1993.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 4096x2690 / 1.2MB; http://www.bakerpictures.com; Scotland Britain UK Richard Baker reportage photojournalism environmental issues health news transportation transport shipping oil-spillage contingency impact disaster wreckage oil industrial corporate responsibility ecological accident environment catastrophe waves rough sea ocean water tide coastal UK structure funnel ship vessel insurance claim vandalism beauty spot rocks delivery current manifest on-board port of call destination voyage journey worldwide global knots sea transport merchandise stern bow starboard port shipment high tide boat navigation surface by sea commerce business industry tidal tide flow route trade water freight cargo economics economy financial finance Gulfaks biodegrade wildlife jeopardy hazard dangerous storm hurricane-force meteorological sunk salvage listing write-off rust-bucket seamanship irresponsible judgemental loss consequence Braer Quendale Bay Sumburgh landscape Shetland islands Isles peninsular failure
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As stormy waves crash over its super-structure and funnel, the Liberian-registered MV Braer oil tanker spills 84,700 tonnes of crude oil into the North Sea. It sits below its water-line with crude oil leaking from its ruptured tanks after running ground in hurricane force winds, beeching itself on these rocks in Quendale Bay, west of Sunburgh Head, the Shetland Islands, Scotland. In fast-fading light, this ecological disaster occured in a beautiful region of Great Britain affecting much native wildlife although the Gulfaks oil the Braer was carrying is lighter therefore more biodegradable and able to disperse better than other North Sea crude.