The list includes the Malta Maritime Authority's director, Lino Vassallo, who has already rebutted such charges.

The Maltese-registered tanker Erika sank off the French coast in December 1999, polluting 400 kilometres of coast with 15,000 tonnes of oil.

The list of the accused includes the tanker's captain, its builder, and Total-Fina-Elf, which hired the vessel. Four army officials who did not answer SOS calls will also be prosecuted. The list also includes Italian company RINA, which classified the ship as safe.

Judge de Talancé estimated that the Erika did €450 million (Lm192 million) worth of damages to the French coast.

The accused have now twenty days to request the nullity of the procedure or to ask for further investigations