'Toxic ship' wasn't cleared to leave US

New Delhi: The US ship, Platinum II - allegedly carrying toxic material - is awaiting clearance to beach at Alang and be broken down for scrap. But now CNN-IBN has accessed fresh documents which show that the ship was fined by the US Environment Protection Agency.

The Company Global Maritime Shipping is also being investigated. The real issue is that it has violated domestic laws in the US. And going by the record of the Clemenceau it should be recalled to the country of origin.

Platinum II, a former luxury liner, is allegedly carrying more than 200 tonnes of toxic asbestos and polychloride biphenyl and is awaiting clearance to beach at Alang and be broken down for scrap.

Environmentalists warn that the waste could leach into the sea and contaminate the marine ecosystem, but the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, which inspected the ship and submitted a report last week, said there was “nothing hazardous” in the vessel.

The pollution control board’s report, sent to the Union Environment and Forest Ministry last week, says “the vessel does not contain any hazardous material”, as claimed by environmental activists, “except asbestos and paint, both of which can be removed.” The state pollution control board, however, has not given permission for the ship to beach at Alang.

Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh last week ordered an inspection of the ship. "I have ordered an enquiry. No permission has been given for the breaking of ship, which means no toxic waste has been taken out of the ship yet," he said on October 15.

Komal Kant Sharma, the ship's owner, told CNN-IBN he blames the authorities for the leak on Platinum II. "The ship was totally safe for sailing but she has been here for the last 14 days. No one has been paying attention for the safety of the ship and in due course of time she got abandoned," Sharama said on the phone from Bhavnagar. "Because of that she developed cracks and is now taking in waters."

Alang is the centre of the worldwide ship-breaking industry. For long, environmentalists have protested against ships sent here for breakage and allege the place has become a toxic graveyard.