The following is a chronology of some previous major oil spills
16th January, 2001 - Ecuador
Ecuadorean-registered ship Jessica, spilled 175,000 gallons of diesel and bunker oil into the sea off the Galapagos Islands.
23rd June, 2000 - South Africa
Some 1,400 tonnes of heavy fuel oil leaked from the bulk carrier Treasure off Cape Town.
2nd January, 1997 - Japan
Russian tanker, the Nakhodka, containing some 19,000 tonnes of oil was torn in two in the Sea of Japan.
15 February, 1996 - UK
Liberian-registered Sea Empress hit rocks near Milford Haven, Wales, spilling 40,000 tonnes of oil.
2nd October, 1994 - Portugal
Panamanian tanker, Cercal, spilled about 2,000 tonnes of crude into the sea after striking a rock near Leixoes harbour, in Oporto.
6th March, 1994 - Thailand
About 105,670 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the sea four miles off the eastern Sriracha coast after oil tanker Visahakit 5 and a cargo ship collided.
5 January, 1993 - UK
The tanker Braer hit rocks near the coast of the Shetland Islands shedding its cargo of 85,000 tonnes of crude.
3rd December, 1992 - Spain
Greek tanker Aegean Sea ran aground and broke in two near La Coruna spilling most of its 80,000 tonne cargo of oil.
7th February, 1990 - USA
The tanker, American Trader, leaked 300,000 gallons of crude from a gash in the hull causing an oil slick 22 km long polluting Bosa Chica, one of southern California's biggest nature preserves.
24th March, 1989 - USA
The Exxon Valdez hit rocks in Prince William Sound spilling some 240,000 barrels of crude oil off Alaskan shores.
6th August, 1983 - South Africa
Fire broke out on the Spanish tanker Castillo de Bellver and 1.8 million barrels of light crude burnt off the coast at Cape Town.
- (Reuters)