news release
    11th January 2005

Environmental campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have welcomed last Thursday's prosecution of Rhein Maas Shipping by the Marine Coastguard Agency for the Mulheim shipping accident in March 2003.

The fine of £10,000 followed an investigation by the MCA and saw the company fined for breaches of Rule 5 of the Collision Regulations and the International Safety Management Code (IMS). Another shipping accident by the ships' owners was also prosecuted on the same day and in total the company's fines were £20,000 with an additional £22,227 of costs.

SAS are pleased the accident has finally resulted in a prosecution following a persistent 22 month campaign. In recent months the Shipping Minister has each day been receiving pieces of Mulheim cargo recovered from the regions beaches with a polite message from an SAS supporter attached urging for a prosecution.

Last year on the 1st anniversary of the Mulheim accident we crashed a model version of the Mulheim into the Shipping Minister's office at the Department for Transport in London to highlight how the pollution from the boats toxic cargo had been affecting Cornish beaches. The event was attended by Liberal Democrat Environment spokesman Norman Baker MP.

Richard Hardy , SAS Campaigns Director says: “Many incidents such as this do not reach the courts so we are delighted a little bit of environmental justice has been delivered and people power played its part.

Whilst SAS believe fines should be much heavier in future it will first require a radical overhaul of shipping legislation where more competent crews are used, flags of convenience are scrapped and greater emphasis is placed on designating and protecting sensitive sea areas. SAS will continue to work in achieving these goals”.

For more information please contact: Richard Hardy or Andy Cummins on Tel: 01872 553001 or Mobile: 07711 767548.

Notes for Editors: The RMS Mulheim ran aground near Lands End at Sennen Cove on March 23 rd 2003. The ships collision with the coastline occurred when the Captain knocked himself unconscious when he got his trousers caught on his chair. Despite a salvage operation much of the ships cargo of shredded plastic that included car dashboards, bumpers and wheels ended up in the sea and will remain a constant reminder on the county's beaches for may years to come. The court found the owners guilty of failing to have 2 crew members on watch during the hours of darkness.

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