The Sea Empress oil spill, which unfolded off the Pembrokeshire coast 30 years ago, began on February 15, 1996, when the single-hull tanker struck rocks while entering the Cleddau Estuary, and the ship’s cargo of 130,000 tonnes of crude oil started to spill into the waters off Pembrokeshire.
Thousands of seabirds were killed, and a major rescue operation was led by the RSPCA.
Steve Bennett, chief inspectorate officer of the RSPCA, said: “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Sea Empress disaster, I find myself looking back with a profound sense of pride and humility.
“On February 15, 1996, our coastline faced an unprecedented ecological threat.
“When 130,000 tonnes of crude oil began to spill into the Pembrokeshire waters, it didn’t just create a slick on the surface; it threatened the very existence of thousands of seabirds.
“What followed was one of the most magnificent rescue operations in the history of the RSPCA.”
The charity coordinated a large-scale response, including a temporary animal hospital in Milford Haven where birds were cleaned and rehabilitated by 53 RSPCA inspectors, 14 ambulance drivers, wildlife staff and hundreds of volunteers.
RSPCA chief inspector Richard Abbott was on duty the night the tanker ran aground.
Mr Abbott said: “I recall speaking to a Brecon RCC (Brecon Regional Control Centre) tasker who said they had received a call saying a tanker had run aground at Milford Haven and was leaking 30,000 gallons of oil.
“She rang me back about five minutes later and said to my astonishment that the Coastguard had confirmed the report.”
The scale of public support was striking, with donations of towels, washing-up liquid and toothbrushes flooding in to help clean the birds.
Procter & Gamble donated large supplies of Fairy Liquid.
Birds were transported in cardboard boxes to the makeshift hospital, where teams worked day and night to save them.
By March 5, 3,142 birds had been rescued, 757 had died in care, and 2,542 were found dead.
The clean-up effort focused mainly on common scoters, but guillemots, divers, gulls and swans were also affected.
RSPCA chief inspector for Mid and West Wales, Romain de Kerckhove, said: “We started putting a plan together to send people down to beaches and give them some direction,” said Romain. “Then after a while it didn’t take long before birds started getting picked up and coming in. But by that stage we’re only just setting up the makeshift hospital at Thornton Industrial Estate.”
Three decades on, the RSPCA continues to care for birds affected by oil and other contaminants at its four wildlife centres.
The charity has treated 289 such cases in the past five years alone, demonstrating the lasting lessons of the Sea Empress disaster.
