Milford Haven Port Wins Sea Empress Fine Challenge

Britain's record fine for pollution, imposed on a port authority after a crude tanker ran aground in 1996, was slashed by the Court of Appeal. After a one-day hearing of the case the court cut the fine on Milford Haven Port Authority to 750,000 pounds ($1.18 million) from the original four million pounds. The Port Authority had appealed against the size of the fine -- imposed because of the way it handled the Sea Empress tanker disaster. The vessel ran aground in the approaches to Milford Haven in February 1996, while carrying a cargo of 130,000 tons of crude oil to a Texaco Inc refinery.