CHEMICAL dispersants were on standby if crude oil from the tanker, the Sea Empress, endangered the Irish coast.
Mr Eamon Gilmore, Minister of, State for the Marine, said last night that there was no immediate danger from the ship, which ran a ground off south Wales last Thursday.
More than 50,000 tonnes of crude oil is now threatening some of Britain's most sensitive areas for both sea and bird life.
Mr Gilmore said his officials were in contact with their British counterparts every few hours. The oil was a light crude that tended to break up easily on the surface. It would take a break up of the vessel, combined with easterly winds, to pose any danger to the Irish, coastline.
The salvage supervisor, Mr Stephen Dennison, said the engine room was intact and there were no signs the ship was breaking up.
A spokesman for the Meteorological Service in Dublin said winds were now north easterly, but were turning westerly. There was no danger from the Sea Empress.