The Torrey Canyon disaster of 1967 made the world realise the horrific consequences of a fully-laden supertanker coming to grief at sea. Now, 12 years later, the North Sea is about to become a major world producer of oil, and heavy tanker traffic associated with North Sea operations poses an unprecedented threat to the British coastline. But to what extent has 12 years of widespread public concern been translated into active prevention of oil pollution?
Keith Allan Investigates what progress has been made in the mainly international problem of preventing accidental and deliberate oil spills.
Researched and presented by Gordon Adam BBC Scotland
(First broadcast on Radio Scotland) : Ions wave only