The Hindu Business Line : Norwegian tanker denied permission to beach at Alang

HESPERUS, a 1973-built Norwegian LPG tanker, was denied permission to beach at Alang, the hub of ship-breaking industry, by the Indian customs authorities, following an alert sounded by the Greenpeace organisation regarding possible presence of hazardous waste on board the 40,165 dwt vessel.

Greenpeace wanted the customs and harbour authorities to ascertain that there was no hazardous waste on board the ship before she is beached for breaking.

According to a Greenpeace spokesman, every year about 250 ships arrive at the Alang ship breaking yard or breaking and recycling. Most of the ships carry toxic substances such as PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) in engine oils, TBT in hull paints, asbestos in electrical claddings and other such material.

During the process of breaking the ships to recover steel from them, these toxic wastes pollute the beaches and the agricultural land around the yards.

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