Crude oil similar to the Erika disaster could devastate the coast

It says that the transfers could devastate the South West coast if there was a major spill.

Large tankers are mooring in the bay to receive crude oil brought by smaller tankers from the Baltic for transport to the Far East.

Each operation involves up to two million barrels and takes about 10 to 14 days, with about six to eight smaller tankers loading a large vessel.

The oil is similar to that in the 1999 Erika and 2002 Prestige incidents, which caused widespread damage to the French and Spanish coasts.

Economic fears

The bay has been used for transfers for some time, but these were mainly one-off operations of less persistent pollutants or in response to emergency situations.

The current transfers are being carried out for commercial reasons only.

If the area has to be used, it should be used wisely, with adequate counter pollution equipment on standby Councillor Stuart Hughes

There have been two transfers in the last two months.

The next transfer begins on Monday August 18 after the MT Iran Hormoz arrives in the bay.

The council says a total release of cargo would affect the entire coast of the South West.

The effects to the economy would be devastating, having a similar impact to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, it says.

Regulations governing the area are still in draft form after five years of discussion.

Now the council is discussing its concerns with the government, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Department of Transport.

Heritage Site

Councillor Stuart Hughes, said: "We want to see better regulation of the area and for this to be strictly monitored to minimise the pollution risk.

"If the area has to be used, it should be used wisely, with a dedicated contingency plan for these operations and adequate counter pollution equipment on standby in the area to be deployed at a moment's notice, as there would be if the operation was taking place in a British port.

"We think the current arrangements are insufficient."

Much of the Devon coastline is already protected under World Heritage Site status. It is the only natural heritage site on the British mainland to be recognised by Unesco.

The county council has already called for urgent protection for Devon's coastline through the establishment of an internationally recognised Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA's).

In addition, the council has called for the Devon coast to be recognised as a national Marine Environmental High Risk Area (MEHRA).

This policy, recommended by Lord Donaldson's Inquiry following the Braer disaster in 1993, advises tankers and other potentially polluting vessels to avoid the area.