, 2007 and Kokinou et al., 2012). Dominant lithologies include carbonates deposited in neritic (shallow) environments, changing into pelagic (deep-sea) carbonates and flysch, i.e., interbeded sands and shales. Carbonate rocks are vertically stacked and accreted to form a series of tectonic nappes. These nappes are separated by east–west striking structures both onshore and offshore (Alves et al., 2007 and Gallen et al., 2014). The older post-orogenic formations on Crete are continental sands and conglomerates of possible Burdigalian (Prina Group, Fassoulas, 2001) to Serravalian

age (N14 selleck compound biozone, Postma and Drinia, 1993). In Southeast Crete, limestone-rich breccia-conglomerates are observed above early Tortonian marls and sands with abundant marine fauna (Tefeli Group; van Hinsbergen and Meulenkamp, 2006). The breccia-conglomerates are followed by calcareous sediments, yellow-grey to white marls, evaporites and bioclastic limestones of the Vrysses Group (Fortuin, 1978). These strata are, in turn, overlain by Pliocene/Quaternary

sandstones and conglomerates of the Hellenikon and Finikia/Gallini Groups, which in some areas have been uplifted and rotated by active faults. Shelval sands and muds, uplifted beach rocks and coarse-grained alluvial fans with large scale boulders, are commonly observed on the Cretan shoreline (Fassoulas, 2001, Peterek and Schwarze, 2004, Pope et al., 2008 and Alves Olaparib in vitro and Lourenço, 2010). The modern seafloor offshore Crete is composed of conglomerates and coarse-grained 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase sands intercalated with unconsolidated muds and debris flows within offshore tectonic troughs (Alves et al., 2007 and Strozyk et al., 2009). Dominant currents offshore South Crete are west-flowing along the shoreline, and locally influenced by sub-regional gyres and eddies (Malanotte-Rizzoli and Bergamasco, 1991 and Theocharis et al., 1993). In contrast, Northern Crete reveals a predominant current direction from northwest to southeast. Periodically,

the flow reverses its direction (Zodiatis, 1991, Zodiatis, 1992, Zodiatis, 1993a, Zodiatis, 1993b and Triantafyllou et al., 2003). In the Kythira and Karpathos Straits, currents also alternate between northerly and southerly directions (Zodiatis, 1991, Zodiatis, 1992, Zodiatis, 1993a, Zodiatis, 1993b and Theocharis et al., 1999). Current direction on the Cretan shoreline depends closely on the relative position of water gyres and eddies to the South and North of the island, and on sea-bottom topography (Theocharis et al., 1993 and Theocharis et al., 1999). Quick oil spill dispersion should be expected with strong prevailing winds and strong swells. An important observation is that moderate northerly winds are recorded in Northern Crete during the summer, exposing the shoreline to any major oil spills occurring in the Cretan Sea (Fig. 1b).