Erika oil spill 1999

The stern section of the Erika flounders in heavy seas in the Bay of Biscay Photograph: French Navy/Corbis

The rear part of Erika descends suddenly Photograph: French Navy/AP

The front section finally sinks Photograph: French Navy/AP

Soldiers and volunteers use shovels to scoop up the oil of the beach at Le Croisic in Brittany Photograph: Marc Roger/AP

A French marine aboard a helicopter holds a sample of the sticky oil which seriously damaged France's Atlantic coast Photograph: Franck Prevel/AP

The Erika oil spill is considered to be the greatest environmental disaster to ever hit France Photograph: Jean-Frederic Ittel/Corbis

A soldier carries a bag filled with oil Photograph: Emmanuel Pain/AFP

Marine wildlife continued to be affected long after the disaster Photograph: Marcel Mochet/AFP

The French military sprays high-pressure water on rocks in the cleanup Photograph: Franck Perry/AFP

Shellfish producers demonste in Paris over the disaster, one banner reading: "Erika, we sink like you" Photograph: Pierre Verdy/EPA