Brit Ship Scrapped Despite International Ban
Article Added March 17th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
The Sir Geraint, a veteran of the Falklands War, is being dismantled in Pakistan . The dismantling went ahead even though the ship is riddled with asbestos, violating an international agreement.
The Gadani shipyard is breaking up the old ship, even though an international ban on the trade of hazardous material waste to developing countries was blatantly violated. The ban should have prevented the ship from even leaving British waters. Suspicions that the ship may be sent to a scrap yard on the subcontinent were ignored, and the ship sailed to a shipyard where the workers are poorly protected against exposure to the deadly material, as well as other harmful substances found in old war ships. A promise was secured when the Sir Geraint was sold to Babcock Support Services in January that it would not be sent for scrapping in the subcontinent.
The same clause was included when Babcock sold the Geraint to Regency Projects, a company whose business it is to buy ships and sell them overseas. The ship was only allowed to sail after the Environment Agency had enquired, and been satisfied, about the ship being sent to the subcontinent. Upon reaching Pakistan, the Sir G, as it was renamed, was sold to Bismilla Maritime Breakers, when the dismantling began. The case recalls a similar situation a few months ago with the Clemenceau.
Article Added March 17th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
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