"The Prestige's Oozing Crude Sparks Debate" was a great article [see the watchers, Feb. 18-March 3]. However, it will be interesting to watch the new relations formed between the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) given the new homeland-security responsibilities before the latter.

The many foreign ships and tankers approaching U.S. shores are recognized as grave public-safety risks--a true Achilles heel. The 1996 collision of the corn-laden freighter Bright Field into the New Orleans Riverwalk shopping mall illustrates the catastrophic potential of an out-of-control ship with access to a critical port, while the disastrous Texas City explosion of 1947 shows the hazards presented by the great volumes of cargo typically carried by such vessels.

Even without help from terrorists, it has long been recognized that there are many "sick" vessels operating in and about densely populated port cities, including New York City, New Orleans and others, creating a veritable game of Russian roulette. The conflicts of interest and hazards to public safety created when a commercial activity with industry ties (i.e., ABS) is incestuously related to a regulatory agency (i.e., USCG) are obvious. Unfortunately, this has created a condition with many floating "time bombs" uncomfortably close to dense population centers.

James Angelo Ruggieri
Fairfax Station, Va.

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