2002

This year the 2001 exceptional subsidy became a long-term source of funding through a multi-year objective convention and new freshly launched programmes also became lasting activities. The whole of Cedre reinforced its actions and its emergency response capacity, in collaboration with the new maritime research and technological innovation network Ritmer, under the ministry in charge of Research. This effort came just in time as, after the loss of tanks of toxic chemicals by the container ship Lykes Liberator off Ushant Island on 22nd February, followed by an attack on the oil tanker Limburg in Yemen on 6th October, the oil tanker Prestige, transporting 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, issued a Mayday on 13th November, off Galicia (Spain), before breaking in two and sinking six days later.