India Bans Asbestos Ship Until February

Article Added January 16th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

The French warship laden with asbestos has been turned away from yet another waterway, at least until February. India will not allow the decommissioned Clemenceau to enter the waterways until a court decides if the ship will be demolished in Indian waters.

The Clemenceau will have to wait to enter India’s water until after February 13th, according to India’s Supreme Court. Environmental groups are concerned that he asbestos on board may harm workers’ health. If it is ruled that the carrier will be scrapped by India, then passage will be allowed for the ship to pass. The preliminary reports indicate that India will not approve the demolition in their shipyards, especially after Greenpeace and Ban Asbestos pointed to the 1989 Basel Convention, banning the export of toxic waste. But the final word will be announced before the February 13th deadline.

France claims that the ship is carrying about 45 tons of asbestos, but a company that pretreated the material says it is more along the lines of 500 to 1,000 tons. Activists say that most ships carrying harmful toxins end up in Indian shipyards, taking a huge toll on workers. The Clemenceau carries not only asbestos, but PCBs, lead, mercury and other harmful toxins. The ship had been stranded in the Suez Canal for three days before Egypt gave the ship clearance, with the French argument that the ship was government property still, so it would not fall under the Basal Convention policy.

Article Added January 16th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story