LETTER: SEA EMPRESS DISASTER: WHY DID IT HAPPEN? WHAT ARE THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNT?

From Professor Roderick A Smith

Sir: Built in Spain; owned by a Norwegian; registered in Cyprus; managed from Glasgow; chartered by the French; crewed by the Russians; flying a Liberian flag; carrying an American cargo; and pouring oil on to the Welsh coast.

But who takes the blame? Difficult question.

But who profits? Easy answer: the lawyers.

Yours sincerely,

Roderick A Smith

Department of Mechanical

and Process Engineering

University of Sheffield