News
Court action follows tanker’s second accident
AN OIL TANKER which ran aground in Milford Haven in 1996 spilling an estimated 73,000 tonnes of crude oil is at the centre of a new controversy, The Herald can reveal.
Following the disaster, the repaired vessel went through the hands of a series of owners only to be scrapped in 2012 – but whilst attempting to dock for scrapping in Bangladesh she was ruptured again, this time by a sunken vessel.
The matter has ended up at Bangladesh’s highest court, and the case is listed for a mention on Tuesday (May 12).
On the evening of 15 February 1996 the Sea Empress was entering the mouth of the Cleddau on her way into Milford Haven to deposit its oil cargo at Texaco refinery. Sailing against the outgoing tide, at 20:07HRS the ship was pushed off its course by the current, and hit rocks in the middle of the channel, which punctured her starboard hull causing oil to pour out into the bay. The total cost of the cleanup operation was approximately £60 million.
The Sea Empress, which was salvaged and repaired, was re-christened MV Sea Spirit. The ship, however, was renamed a further four times. She was later renamed MV Front Spirit, and then renamed again, being sold under the name MV Ocean Opal, to Chinese buyers. They used her as a floating storage and offloading unit from 2004.
In 2010, she was converted in Shanghai into a bulk carrier, and re-flagged as the Panamanian registered MV Welwind. In 2012, she was renamed for a fifth time; MV Wind 3.
On June 3, 2012 the 274-metre long vessel was brought to Chittagong in Bangladesh for dismantling at the Shitakunda ship breaking yard. On the way to the yard, she developed a crack in one side of its engine room following a collision with a sunken ship, Hang Ro Bong, when she was attempting to anchor at the B (Bravo) anchorage of the por t.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) removed the vessel from the outer anchorage of Chittagong port.
Rice-laden Hang Ro Bong capsized in the Bay in a collision with another ship on April 6, 2011
Following allegation of oil spillage from the former Sea Empress vessel, a team led by the CPA Deputy Conservator Captain Najmul Alam on CPA salvage vessel Kandari-10, visited the spot.
At the time Najmul told a local newspaper in Bangladesh, The Daily Star, that they did not found any presence of oil floating on the Bay at the outer anchorage.
The private salvage company, Prantik, took responsibility to salvage the sunken ship. But now Prantik Bengal Salvage is taking legal action against the owner’s of the ship and other parties, and the case continues this week.
Community
Milford Haven School pupil praised after stepping in during real-life emergency
A YEAR 11 pupil at Milford Haven School has been praised after putting his first aid training into action to help an injured member of the public following an accident.
Aryan, who is currently working towards lifesaving qualifications, including first aid training, found himself faced with a real emergency when a woman suffered a head injury after a fall.
Rather than panic, the teenager stepped in immediately and calmly took control of the situation.
According to Milford Haven School, Aryan used a first aid kit to treat the injury, helped make the woman comfortable, and provided clear aftercare advice while remaining calm and compassionate throughout the incident.
School staff said his actions demonstrated maturity, confidence and professionalism beyond his years.
Applying first aid in a genuine emergency can be far more challenging than practising in a classroom setting, but Aryan rose to the occasion and put his training into practice when it mattered most.
Milford Haven School said it was “incredibly proud” of the Year 11 pupil, describing him as “a fantastic example of courage, responsibility and care for others.”
The school added that Aryan’s response showed the importance of young people learning practical lifesaving skills and highlighted the positive impact they can have within the community.
Da iawn, Aryan — a credit to Milford Haven School and the wider community.
Photo caption: Helping hand: Year 11 pupil Aryan has been praised after using his first aid training to help an injured member of the public following a fall (Pic: Milford Haven School).
News
Welsh Labour accuses Plaid Cymru of ‘reviews over delivery’ on housing
Labour says urgent action is needed as Plaid Cymru outlines plans for housing and town centre reform
WELSH LABOUR has accused the Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government of relying too heavily on reviews and task forces rather than taking immediate action to tackle housing pressures and struggling high streets across Wales.
The criticism came after comments from Welsh Labour spokesperson for Housing and Communities, Jayne Bryant MS, who said Plaid Cymru had failed to match ambition with delivery.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (June 9), Ms Bryant said Labour supported efforts to improve access to housing and revitalise town centres, but argued that progress was being slowed by further assessments rather than concrete policies.
She said: “We all want to see better access to housing and thriving high streets across Wales. But yet again today, we hear of reviews and task forces from Plaid Cymru, but no immediate actions.
“The Welsh Labour Government delivered almost 20,000 homes in five years, protected Help to Buy Wales when it was scrapped in England, and improved renters’ rights. When will we see tangible action from Plaid Cymru?”
She added: “This is now a running theme from this Plaid Cymru government – discussion over delivery, reviews over rollout.”
The comments follow recent announcements by the Plaid Cymru-led administration indicating that housing access and regeneration will be subject to further assessment, with ministers signalling new reviews into how communities can be supported.
Housing remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Wales, particularly in rural and coastal areas such as Pembrokeshire, where rising house prices, second homes and shortages of affordable housing continue to place pressure on local residents.
Town centres across Wales have also faced increasing challenges in recent years, with changing shopping habits, business closures and economic pressures prompting calls for renewed investment and reform.
Plaid Cymru has previously defended its approach, arguing that long-term structural problems require careful planning and evidence-based policy rather than short-term fixes.
The political row comes as housing affordability and local economic regeneration are expected to remain key battleground issues in Welsh politics over the coming months.
News
Plaid MPs back motion against single-sex services code
Welsh Government says it will apply the law following Supreme Court ruling on definition of sex
ALL FOUR Plaid Cymru MPs have backed a Westminster motion opposing the UK Government’s draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations.
The code follows the UK Supreme Court ruling that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the terms “sex”, “woman” and “man” refer to biological sex.
Early Day Motion 240, tabled at Westminster on June 1, states: “That the draft Code of Practice for Services, public functions and associations, a copy of which was laid before this House on 21 May, be disapproved.”
The four Plaid Cymru MPs listed as supporters are Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Llinos Medi and Ann Davies, who all signed the motion on June 3.
The issue has sparked criticism from Conservatives and Reform, who argue the guidance is needed to protect women-only spaces such as domestic abuse refuges, hospital wards and changing rooms.
Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn, said: “Women in Wales deserve clarity, dignity and safety. That means having the right to single-sex spaces enshrined and protected in law.
“Plaid Cymru’s MPs have just voted against the guidance designed to make that a reality.
“Plaid needs to explain why they are siding against women-only spaces. These are not legal technicalities. They are refuges for domestic abuse survivors, hospital wards and changing rooms. Real spaces where real women have a right to privacy and safety.”
Laura Anne Jones MS also raised the issue in the Senedd, accusing Plaid MPs of a “complete betrayal of women and girls.”
She challenged Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams over women’s refuges, girls’ changing rooms and other protected spaces.
Ms Jones said: “It is shocking that all four of your Plaid MPs in Westminster backed a motion this week opposing single-sex services for women.
“This is nothing short of a complete betrayal of women and girls right across Wales.”
Responding in the Senedd, Sioned Williams accused Reform of trying to turn a sensitive legal issue into a culture war.
She said the Welsh Government had a duty to implement the law and was already applying the Supreme Court judgment.
Ms Williams said: “As a Government, we have a duty to implement the law, and as I said, we are already applying the current law, including the judgment of the Supreme Court.
“We have made clear that we will fully abide by our legal obligations. If the code of practice is approved, we will apply it lawfully in line with our legal duties.”
She added that Westminster MPs of all parties had the right to scrutinise whether the guidance “gets the balance right.”
The Welsh Government has now issued a further statement to The Herald.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to tackling discrimination and supporting women and girls, in a respectful and inclusive way that upholds the rights and dignity of all people.
“We respect the Supreme Court’s decision and are carefully reviewing the draft Code and its implications for Wales.
“We will lawfully and fully apply the EHRC Code of Practice in a way that continues to support inclusive services and work with public bodies and service providers to ensure the Code is implemented consistently, while maintaining dignity and respect for everyone.”
The issue remains politically sensitive, with opponents of Plaid’s position saying the draft code is necessary for clarity over single-sex spaces, while the Welsh Government says it will apply the law while maintaining dignity and respect for all groups.
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