The presence of an emergency towing vessel (ETV) based at Milford Haven could minimise the damage caused by oil spills due to their power to tow oil tankers. The nearest ETV is based in Falmouth, approximately 440 miles away and it is anticipated that travelling at full speed on a calm sea it would take over nine hours to reach Milford Haven – in unpredictable weathers such as that during the Sea Empress oil spill it could take anything in the region of 14 – 18 hours.

The report, An overview of shipping activities in UK waters - Ten years on from the sea empress disaster also says that climate change is resulting in increased storminess and unpredictable conditions which coupled with a growth in shipping movements in South West Wales are factors that need to be considered by Harbour Authorities.

Every Harbour Authority should have an oil spill contingency plan which should be periodically reviewed to take into account new information and changing trends in shipping activities and the environment.

"On the tenth anniversary of the Sea Empress, we have an opportunity to do something we never managed on land – to sustainable manage our marine environment," said Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru.

"There is an urgent need to minimise the risks from oil pollution on our precious marine environment. In Wales we are only too aware of how much damage shipping disasters such as the Sea Empress can inflict on a region's marine environment, economy and valuable fisheries."

"We urge the Welsh Assembly Government to use its powers to support the proposed Marine Bill and help establish a New Marine Act incorporating marine spatial planning. Only through this approach will there be a strategy in place to adequately protect our seas from the risks associated with increased human activity such as shipping and energy generation."

The report says that the Sea Empress oil spill ranks as one of the world's worse ten oil spills: 72,000 tonnes of crude oil and 370 tonnes of heavy fuel oil affected a total of 200km stretch of coastline costing up to £38million to clean and in compensation payments.

The oil spill impacted on bird life; the 7,000 birds that were cleaned suffered poor survival rates and Sea Scoter numbers have been very slow to recover because much of their feeding ground was lost.

According to the report, the UK Government has incorporated some key changes since the Sea Empress which have had a direct improvement to Pembrokeshire's coastline these include:

• Two pilots must now be on board vessels over 120, 000 (dead weight tonnage) and sufficient training must be provided; there was only one aboard the Sea Empress.
• Tides in Pembrokeshire are unpredictable and strong; insufficient data was available at the time of the incident. Now there are computer featured models that analyse the tide which enhance knowledge and understanding of the area.
• Greater scientific understanding of the impacts of oils spills on marine species which inform future decision making processes.
• Further research has taken place to improve response and assessment procedure should another major oil spill occur.

The Welsh Assembly Government has responsibility for regulation and protection up to 12 nautical miles, with some important exceptions such as oil and gas development and shipping which remain with the Department of Trade and Industry.

"Currently there are hundreds of different laws and policies governing our seas. Political parties in Wales need to understand the huge economic, social and environmental implicantions of not managing our seas properly," added Mr Parry.

"WWF Cymru would welcome a debate at the Assembly on the proposed Marine Bill which has been prepared by the UK Government."