French Wreck Probe Finds No Big Leaks in Rear Hull

An underwater robot completed inspection of the rear of a wrecked tanker that caused an oil spill off France's west coast, and reported no major leaks from the oil still inside, according to authorities. The Triton XL, sent down to the wreck last week to relieve an earlier robot which got stuck, found only a very small dribble of hydrocarbon fuel coming from a bridge hatch at the rear of the wrecked hull and a trickle of air bubbles in a nearby area, officials said. A probe of the front section of the wreck has yet to take place. The Triton robot was due to begin exploring the bow section of the tanker Erika as soon as possible.