On 12 December 1999 the Maltese registered tanker Erika broke in two in the Bay of Biscay, some 60 nautical miles off the coast of Brittany. The tanker was carrying a cargo of 31,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil of which some 19,800 tonnes were spilled. This incident led to a reassessment, at EU and international level, of many aspects of the regulatory arrangements which apply regarding maritime safety and the protection of the maritime environment. The arrangements which apply at international level regarding liability and compensation in respect of pollution caused by oil tankers are being examined in this context.