asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will make a statement as to how the oil tanker, Christos Bitas, came to be so close to the Irish coast having been damaged off the Welsh coast.
Written Answers. - Position of Oil Tanker.
34.
My information is that the Christos Bitas was proceeding from Europoort (Rotterdam) to Belfast, that she went aground off the Welsh Coast and was refloated and that the Master of the vessel decided to continue his journey to Belfast. Subsequent events made it impossible for the vessel to continue the voyage to Belfast.
I should make it clear that the vessel did not at any stage enter Irish waters and as far as I can establish never came nearer to the Irish coast than might be expected on a voyage from Rotterdam to Belfast.