Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, May 10, 2006 |
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Logistics
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Shipping Industry & Economy - Environment Greenpeace opposes entry of cruise liner SS France Our Bureau
MR RAMAPATI KUMAR, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace, addressing a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday. — Kamal Narang
New Delhi , May 9 Greenpeace on Tuesday opposed the entry of cruise liner SS France, which is headed from Malaysia for shipbreaking yard at Alang, on the shores of Gujarat. The NGO claimed that the cruiser, also known as Blue Lady or SS Norway, is one of the top 50 toxic ships in the world and has 900 tonnes of asbestos and other toxic materials. It has left the Malaysian coast on Friday last and is expected to reach Alang in Gujarat by May 23, said Mr Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace Campaigner. The ship, owned by Malaysian Star Cruises Ltd, has been bought by Indian firm Regent Shipping at a cost of $17 million. "The ship carries 900 tonnes of asbestos and also many other types of globally-banned toxic materials and a cancer causing chemical known as polychlorinated biphenyls," said Mr Kumar at a press conference here. About 35,000-40,000 tonnes of steel can be extracted from the ship, he said. Greenpeace also accused the Indian Government as well as the shipbreaking industry of being "callous" in dealing with such issues. The cruise liner was not permitted to be broken down at yards in Bangladesh. Moreover, there was "little interest" from the shipbreaking industry in the country, he said.
Govt blamed
Mr Kumar also said that the Government had not yet formed any policy on shipbreaking that would take care of safety provisions concerning environment. "There are a lot of initiatives being taken by various countries world-over on safe shipbreaking. However, the Indian Government is yet to wake up to the issue," he alleged, adding that there is lack of coordination between Ministries of Environment and Forests, Shipping and Labour on the issue. The French President had recalled another ship Clemenceau, while it was on its way to India in February this year, following the controversy over its alleged high levels of toxicity.
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