New South Wales premier Bob Carr said his government was considering a number of new measures, including the mandatory use of booms around tankers, to ensure that next year's Olympics are remembered as the ``green Games''.``I like the idea of having booms there as part of ordinary procedure when tankers are unloading,'' the premier said. ``I will take advice from experts on the feasibility, but it's certainly one proposal that could emerge from what's taking place now.'' Carr rejected calls from environmental groups that the harbour be closed to oil-tankers during the Olympics but said his government would consider banning the unloading of oil in the harbour during dark.

``Oil has been imported through Sydney Harbour for about 100 years and any suggestion that it should be taken out of Sydney Harbour is rejected by me and mygovernment,'' he said. On Tuesday night a giant Italian tanker, the Laura D'Amato, released an estimated 80,000 litres of crude oil into the water. The accident prompted a massive clean-up operation, including the use of two specially-built skimmer machines. The spill badly affected wildlife. A number of birds, including cormorants, penguins, teals, ducks and gulls, have been coated with oil, while there are fears visiting dolphins could inhale oil or oil vapour.

The tanker's owners have admitted liability for the leak and together with the ship's insurers face a fine of $ 650,000 for breaching environmental regulations.

A number of private property owners living around the harbour are also expected to seek damages.

The owners, Fratelli D'Arnato SpA (SpA), said the spill came from an open valve on board the vessel but it was not clear exactly how the accident occurred. The company dismissed press reports that the Laura D'Amato was sabotaged by disgruntled crew members and apologised for the spillagewhich it said lasted only about five minutes. Police said they were still interviewing the ship's Italian officers and Filipino crew.