The Braer oil tanker ran aground in Shetland 25 years ago today after its engines failed. The timeline below plots some of the key events and issues that arose in the years that followed.
January 5 1993
The MV Braer oil tanker ran aground during a storm off Shetland and nearly a week later broke up.
November 1993
A Scottish judge dismissed a £1.9million claim for damages – the first ruling in a total of 240 damages claims at the Court of Session in Edinburgh against the Braer Corporation.
August 1998
Derrick Black, a Shetland farmer, was allowed to sue for personal-injury damages on psychological grounds for a total of £250,000 damages.
January 1999
Shetland disillusioned islanders say they feel they are being forced to drop their compensation claims against the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
Among the individuals, companies and Government bodies still waiting to have their claims settled are the Department of Transport and the Scottish Office (£3.5million), Shetland Islands Council (£1.4million), the salmon farming industry (£15.3million) and fish processors (£7.7million).
May 1999
The failure of the first appeal in the Braer oil spill legal fight does not bode well for future claimants trying to win compensation.
March 2000
The Government dropped its claim for millions of pounds in compensation. The effect should make £5.2million available to local people.
April 2000
International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund confirm cheques worth around £1.6million are about to be handed to around 40 small boat owners who have waited more than seven years for compensation following losses due to the grounding.
May 2000
Government ban on fishing and harvesting of mussels and prawns in an area to the south of Shetland have at last been lifted.
The ban had been in place for the last seven and a half years following the grounding of Braer.
December 2000
Shetland Islands Council settled for payment of £652,000 of an original claim worth more than £1.5million for costs incurred in dealing with the impact of spill. Shetland Islands Council will receive an initial 40% payment.
January 2003
The first birds found covered in oil after Braer ran aground were set free in Shetland. Four black guillemots were taken to Toft, 40 miles north of the wrecked tanker, and set free on the beach.
October 2003
The level of compensation available to victims of oil pollution increases by 50%.
Coastal communities, local businesses and many others who incur costs and losses as a result of oil spills in future will be able to claim up to £180million from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
December 2006
The Government extended the contract to supply emergency tugs based in the Western and Northern Isles until 2011.
The rescue service with boats operating out of Stornoway and Shetland now comprises four emergency towing vehicles worth £20million each. The contract keeps the boats available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
January 2013
In the wake of the 20th anniversary of the Braer oil tanker disaster in Shetland, north MSP John Finnie is calling on the UK Government to increase the number of emergency tug boats protecting Scotland’s shores.
Westminster cuts have seen the number of tugs covering the coastline drop from two to one, which is stationed in Orkney and will only receive government funding until 2015.