Prestige Oil Spill, off Galicia
13 November 2002 – 19 November 2002 · Off the coast of Galicia, Spain
The single-hull tanker Prestige suffered hull damage in heavy weather, leaked oil, and was ordered out to sea before breaking up and sinking on 19 November, releasing tens of thousands of tonnes of heavy fuel oil onto the Atlantic coast of Spain and France.
Why it matters
Accelerated the phase-out of single-hull tankers under MARPOL Annex I and tightened EU rules (Regulation 417/2002). The response also influenced later policy on places of refuge for ships in distress.