Meanwhile, Prime Minister Durão Barroso said Portugal is taking "all measures" possible to minimise the risk of oil slicks reaching its coast.
He said the environmental catastrophe, already affecting much of Spain's Galician coast, was being carefully monitored by Lisbon's Environment, Defense and Foreign Ministries.
Environmental group Greenpeace said the sinking of the stricken tanker would affect the environment "for years". This sentiment was echoed by Greenpeace’s Portuguese counterparts, Quercus, who said the effects of the Prestige’s sinking will be felt "for decades", if not "permanently".
He said the environmental catastrophe, already affecting much of Spain's Galician coast, was being carefully monitored by Lisbon's Environment, Defense and Foreign Ministries.
Environmental group Greenpeace said the sinking of the stricken tanker would affect the environment "for years". This sentiment was echoed by Greenpeace’s Portuguese counterparts, Quercus, who said the effects of the Prestige’s sinking will be felt "for decades", if not "permanently".
In addition, these groups alerted that if the entire cargo of the Prestige should spill, the resulting damage would be double that caused by one of the worst ever accident - the Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska in 1989.
At the time of going the press, officials said there had been no new leakage since the crippled, Greek-owned "Prestige" broke apart and sank Tuesday morning 80 kilometres north of Portuguese waters and 200 kilometres off the Galician coast.
Portugal's Hydrographic Institute said the vessel was located about 25 nautical miles north of Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone.
At the time of going the press, officials said there had been no new leakage since the crippled, Greek-owned "Prestige" broke apart and sank Tuesday morning 80 kilometres north of Portuguese waters and 200 kilometres off the Galician coast.
Portugal's Hydrographic Institute said the vessel was located about 25 nautical miles north of Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Portuguese maritime authorities expressed hope the fuel oil spilled after the "Prestige" suffered a ruptured hull in stormy weather one week ago would not reach the Portuguese coast.
Prevailing winds, they said, appeared likely to blow the slick northwards, away from Portugal.
But latest weather reports, suggested stormy conditions, with winds blowing from a northwesterly direction, which would force the slick onto Portuguese shores.
The UK Met Office, which has been issuing bulletins to ships in the area, said Portugal was likely to take the brunt of the pollution.
Prevailing winds, they said, appeared likely to blow the slick northwards, away from Portugal.
But latest weather reports, suggested stormy conditions, with winds blowing from a northwesterly direction, which would force the slick onto Portuguese shores.
The UK Met Office, which has been issuing bulletins to ships in the area, said Portugal was likely to take the brunt of the pollution.