Fair Isles Fouled By Crude Oil

Until last week, gentle ponies and Fair Isle sweaters represented the Shetland Islands: comforting symbols of a place of untamed beauty. Now Shetland is distinguished by 619,000 bbl. of spilling oil. The tanker Braer, owned by a subsidiary of a U.S. firm, ran aground Tuesday after its engines failed during a storm. A few hours before the ship hit the rocks, helicopters took the crew off, so no one was aboard to secure a line to a rescue tug. As rough seas kept salvors from pumping off the remaining crude, the slick threatened to kill thousands of birds. The Braer's operator, Bergvall & Hudner, said its $700 million in insurance will cover damage claims.