Sunken Tanker Leaks Chemicals

CHERBOURG, France — Highly toxic chemicals have leaked from an Italian tanker that sank off France’s Atlantic coast, French officials said Wednesday.

Maritime police issued an urgent warning to boats, telling them to stay at least 3.7 miles from the site where the Ievoli Sun tanker sank northwest of Alderney, one of the Channel Islands, which is about 10 miles off the French coast. Meanwhile, scientists went to sea to take water and air samples and test the extent of the leak.

The tanker, which went down Tuesday, was carrying 6,000 tons of dangerous chemicals--mostly styrene, which is used to make plastics, rubber and resins. Officials said a strong odor of chemicals was coming from the site.

The sinking of the tanker has raised alarm at the highest political levels in France.

It comes less than a year after the aging Maltese-registered tanker Erika sank, polluting large stretches of France’s picturesque Atlantic coast.

President Jacques Chirac traveled Wednesday morning to the French port of Cherbourg for an assessment of the pollution risk. He also planned to inspect efforts to raise the vessel and isolate its cargo.

The Ievoli Sun sank after sending out distress signals Monday as gale-force winds lashed the French coast.

A helicopter evacuated the 14 crew members. A rescue tug was sent to help the stricken vessel, but it could not get the tanker back to port.

Other products on board the Ievoli Sun included isopropyl, or rubbing alcohol, and methyl ethyl ketone, often used as a solvent.

Saying the incident poses a “serious threat to the environment,” French Environmental Minister Dominique Voynet condemned “the irresponsibility of those who did not anticipate the expectations of society regarding maritime safety.”

Environmental groups warned that the chemicals, especially the styrene, could cause serious ecological problems. Styrene is highly toxic and causes cancer in laboratory animals.

French maritime police said the styrene was mixed with fuel from the tanker. Adm. Laurent Merer said it was not clear what had caused the foul smell in the area where the boat sank.

Shell Chemicals, which chartered the ship, said Tuesday that the styrene on board would not damage the environment. In case of a spill, the company said in a statement, the styrene would float to the surface, evaporating in a matter of hours.

But on Wednesday, Shell executive Christian Balmes acknowledged that the product posed “potential risks” to the environment and said the company “is prepared to assume its responsibilities.”

The ship is about 200 to 250 feet below the surface.

Fierce gales of up to 93 mph swept much of northern France on Monday, killing four people and seriously disrupting rail, air and sea travel.