The MV Prestige was a Greek-operated oil tanker that became infamous for its sinking in 2002 off the coast of Galicia, Spain. The vessel, carrying 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, suffered structural damage during a storm, leading to an oil spill that caused significant environmental damage along the Spanish and French coastlines. The incident sparked a major international response involving cleanup efforts and legal battles over responsibility for the disaster. The sinking of the MV Prestige highlighted the risks associated with maritime transport of hazardous materials and raised awareness about the need for stricter regulations and safety measures in the shipping industry.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.