'Toxic ship' MV Asia Union leaves Bangladeshi waters:

Toxic Ship MV Asia Union (IMO: 8015673) – former MV Humber

The suspected toxic ship MV Asia Union, which last week sought to enter Bangladesh, left the country's waters in the last few days, officials say.

The ship's agents wanted permission for the Chinese-owned vessel to be dismantled in Bangladesh.

But officials last week told the coast guard to turn it back after complaints that it may contain harmful chemicals and pose a health and safety threat.

Bangladesh has become one of the world's leading shipbreaking nations.

Dozens of cargo ships and tankers from around the world are brought to yards - mostly in the Chittagong region - to be dismantled.

"As per the request of the department of environment, the Coast Guard acted and the ship left the territorial waters of Bangladesh. We are not sure about its next port of call," Captain Nazmul Alam, deputy conservator of Chittagong port told the BBC.

The ship was anchored around eight nautical miles (12km) off the coast of the southern port of Chittagong.

Environmental groups said the vessel might possess hazardous substances including asbestos, toxic paints and chemical residues which are harmful to human health and the environment.

An official last week said a team would be sent to the ship to find out whether it contained any toxic material before taking a final decision. But Captain Alam said that nobody visited the ship.

Every year, dozens of old ships are brought to Bangladesh to be dismantled for scrap.

Shipbreakers say that recycled steel from dismantled ships supplies around 60% of Bangladesh's total steel demands.

They say that the industry also provides jobs to thousands of people.

But environmentalists allege that many old ships come with hazardous materials which are dumped in coastal areas, posing a danger to the environment and to workers.

Source: BBC. By Anbarasan Ethirajan. 29 September 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15103234

Chinese toxic ship finally leaves Chittagong:

The illegally imported Chinese toxic ship MV Asia Union, which was asked to stay off the Chittagong port on its arrival on Monday, has finally left the Bangladesh waters.

Tajminur Rahman, senior assistant director of the Department of Environment, confirmed the departure of the ship imported by Cosco Shipping, a subsidiary of Beijing-based China Ocean Shipping Company. The company did not obtain the No Objection Certificate from the authorities.

Formerly known as MV Humber and MV Cast Otter, the Asia Union was detected with at least 79 “deficiencies” since 2010 at different ports. It reportedly contains hazardous substances including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl, toxic paints and chemical residues that have adverse effects on humans, wildlife and the environment.

The Daily Star on Friday reported the imminent arrival of the ship, whose movement is monitored by international maritime watchdogs.

As soon as the ship reported its arrival at 3:30am on Monday, the port authorities ordered it to stay out of the port, which is 5.5 nautical miles (nearly 10km) from Patenga, Captain Nazmul Alam, deputy conservator of Chittagong port, told The Daily Star.

Sources in the shipbreaking industry said most of the importers do not comply with the law because they can manage the authorities.

India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the leading shipbreaking countries in Asia. Bangladesh is considered a dumping ground for toxic ships for its lax laws.

The authorities granted dismantling more than 100 ships in shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda since the High Court on March 7 conditionally relaxed restrictions on purchase of ships for dismantling.

Source: The Daily Star. 29 September 2011

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=204446

Chinese Toxic Ship Asked to Stay Off the Port Chittagong:

Chinese Toxic Ship MV Asia Union, which arrived at the Port of Chittagong yesterday, has been asked to stay off the port until environmental department carries a thorough inspection.

According to the Department of Shipping, the ship has been imported illegally and the importers never applied for a NOC (No Objection Certificate).

MV Asia Union, which was formerly known as, MV Humber and MV Cast Otter, has been detected with 79 deficiencies since 2010. The ship has been reported to possess hazardous substances such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl, toxic paints, and chemical residues, making it extremely unfit for any port of the world.

Presently the ship has been asked to stay away from the port area, approximately 5.5 nautical miles from the port. The Department of Environment has been asked to inspect the ship. The ship will be allowed in the port only if the department issues an environmental clearance certificate.

Source: Marine Insight. 21 September 2011

http://www.marineinsight.com/news/featured/chinese-toxic-ship-asked-to-stay-off-the-port-chittagong/

Bangladesh Doesn't Want Asbestos Ship:

Chittagong, Bangladesh - Officials in Bangladesh’s Chittagong region, an area where hundreds of old ships are dismantled each year, have announced that they will refuse to accept a Korean ship that is said to contain large amounts of harmful asbestos and other hazardous materials.

According to a BBC News article written by Anbarasan Ethirajan, officials are taking a stand after receiving complaints about the ship from several environmental groups. The vessel, the MV Asia Union, was built in South Korea in 1982, a time when most countries had ceased the use of asbestos materials. However, because asbestos was not banned in South Korea until 2009, there is an assumption that it contains large amounts of the material.

“We haven't received any application for MV Asia Union,” said Department of Environment Director General Monowar Islam. “We have not provided any environmental clearance for this ship.”

However, a port official in Chittagong noted that they would be sending a team of inspectors out to the ship to determine exactly what remains on board. At that point, they will make a recommendation and a decision will be made as to whether or not to allow the ship into Bangladeshi waters.

Thousands of workers in Chittagong make their living in so-called shipbreaking yards, dismantling old vessels that come to Bangladesh from countries around the world. According to the BBC article, Bangladesh gets about 60 percent of its steel from these shipbreaking yards.

However, such a job can be extremely hazardous because, for decades, ships were fitted with all sorts of asbestos materials because of the mineral’s excellent heat-resistant qualities. Throughout the world, individuals who worked in shipyards or aboard ships that were built while asbestos use was widespread, including U.S. veterans, have been sickened with asbestos diseases such as malignant mesothelioma.

Source: Mesothelioma.com. 23 September 2011

http://www.mesothelioma.com/news/2011/09/bangladesh-doesnt-want-asbestos-ship.htm

Toxic ship told to stay afar: Environment dept to decide its fate after inspection

Chinese toxic ship MV Asia Union arrived in Chittagong early Monday for dismantling and has been asked to stay off the port as it is imported illegally.

Department of Shipping has not issued any NOC (no objection certificate) in favour of the ship, said Jobair Ahmed, director general of the department.

The vessel has to return because its importer never applied for an NOC prior to importing as required by the law of the land, noted the DG. “The initial steps for importing a scrap vessel are obtaining an NOC, opening a letter of credit and applying for an environmental certificate. As regards Asia Union, nothing has been done to import it legally.”

Formerly known as MV Humber and MV Cast Otter, Asia Union was detected with at least “79 deficiencies since 2010” at different ports. It reportedly possesses hazardous substances including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl, toxic paints and chemical residues, which have adverse effects on humans, wildlife and the environment.

As soon as Asia Union reported its arrival at 3:30am day before yesterday, the port authority ordered it out of the port area, which is 5.5 nautical miles from Patenga point, Deputy Conservator of Chittagong port Captain Nazmul Alam told The Daily Star.

“A committee comprised of experts from the Department of Environment [DoE] and other organisations will inspect the ship. It will only be allowed for dismantling here if the inspectors issue an environmental clearance certificate,” he added.

According to Coast Guard sources, the ship is now anchored 5.4 nautical miles off Patenga point.

Sources in the shipbreaking industry said most of the importers do not bother to comply with the law because they somehow manage the custodians of the law.

“The Daily Star in its report on Friday blew the whistle on the toxic ship and our officials don't want to allow dismantling it,” mentioned a top official of Mercantile Marine Department in Chittagong.

Manager (operations) Khairul Wara of the importer Cosco Shipping said they have asked the DoE to inspect the ship and issue an environmental clearance certificate. Cosco Shipping is a subsidiary of the Beijing based China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company.

Khairul claimed the Asia Union is quite safe. He complained that a vested group is trying to influence the DoE.

International maritime watchdog issued warning prior to its arrival in Bangladesh. The DoE office in Chittagong alerted the port authority and the Coast Guard about the hazardous ship and urged them not to allow it entry to the country for dismantling, said Tajminur Rahman, senior assistant director of DoE.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in letters to the DoE, Mercantile Marine Department and Chittagong Customs yesterday also warned them about the ship's arrival.

Bela said Indian shipbreakers rejected dismantling the ship for having dangerous substances. It urged the offices concerned not to issue any NOC or environmental clearance for Asia Union.

India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the leading shipbreaking countries in Asia. In the international ship-breaking business Bangladesh is considered a dumping ground for toxic ships due to lack of laws.

The authorities have granted permission to dismantle more than 100 ships in ship-breaking yards in Sitakundu since the High Court on March 7 conditionally relaxed restrictions on purchase of ships for dismantling.

Source: The Daily Star. By Morshed Ali Khan. 21 September 2011

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=203359

Indian court clears 'toxic' ship Blue Lady:

The Blue Lady was once the pride of France seen at Alang beach

A former ocean liner can be broken up in India despite concerns it contains toxic waste, the Supreme Court says.

The judgement came after experts were asked to decide if it was safe to scrap the Blue Lady at the giant breaking yard at Alang in western Gujarat state.

Environmentalists say the Blue Lady, formerly the SS France and then the SS Norway, contains tonnes of toxic waste.

In June 2006, the court allowed the vessel to enter Indian waters but said it must stay anchored off the coast.

Bangladesh banned the vessel from its waters in February 2006.

'Not safe'

Tuesday's ruling follows a year of controversy over the fate of the ship.

Campaigners say dismantling should not be allowed at Alang

The Supreme Court judges said their decision was based on the report submitted by the expert committee set up to decide whether it was safe to dismantle the liner.

"Since the court has accepted the technical expert committee report, we permit the Blue Lady to be dismantled," said Supreme Court judge SH Kapadia, Reuters news agency reports.

Details of the order were not immediately available.

The Indian Platform on Shipbreaking, an alliance of groups including Greenpeace and the Ban Asbestos Network, had lobbied for the ship not to be broken up.

Environmental groups say the 11-storey, 315-metre-long, liner contains 1,200 tonnes of asbestos and other toxic materials.

"We are very disappointed," Madhumita Dutta of Ban Asbestos Network told the BBC.

"Last week, the Supreme Court said if a contaminated ship comes to India, it should be sent back. It's been proved beyond doubt that Blue Lady contains all sorts of toxic material. How can the court allow it to be dismantled?" she asked.

The alliance says Indian yards lack the technology to deal with such waste and workers will be exposed to unacceptable risk.

Last year, a study commissioned by the government confirmed that one in six workers at the Alang ship yards showed signs of asbestos poisoning.

Hotel or museum

The Blue Lady, now owned by an Indian firm, was once the pride of the French shipping industry when it was the SS France.

Artist Salvador Dali and pop star David Bowie were among its celebrity passengers.

Ship-lovers and ecologists alike have battled to prevent the vessel from being scrapped.

There was a proposal to convert the liner into a floating hotel. Campaigners in the France Liner Association want to see it turned into a museum.

Alang, known as the graveyard of ships, has been the last port of call for countless ships from around the world. Thousands of workers take apart huge liners, past their prime, with their hands and very basic tools.

Last year, the French government bowed to pressure and recalled the decommissioned aircraft carrier Clemenceau while it was en route to Alang.

The Alang Shipbreaking Association has in the past denied charges of asbestos poisoning.

The Gujarat Maritime Board, which administers the yards, says the workers are provided with equipment and adequate training to ensure their safety.

Source: BBC. 11 September 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6988763.stm

Bangladesh Govt bans scrapping toxic ship, Alfaship:

The government issued a temporary order Saturday refusing to allow scrapping of an oil tanker which, according to Greenpeace, contains toxic materials.

Alfaship, formerly named Alfa America, is one of the 50 ships the international environmental group Greenpeace has put on its watch-list of vessels believed to be contaminated.

The Bahamian-flagged ship arrived at Chittagong Port on Thursday and a shipbreaking yard owner, who now owns the oil tanker, sought government permission for scrapping it.

"We have refused permission for its scrapping in our waters after we saw its name on the Greenpeace watch-list," said Mercantile Marine Department Principal Officer Habibur Rahman.

He said, "The government has formed a probe committee including government officials and environment and nuclear wastes experts, which will inspect the ship to make a final decision on whether to allow the ship to be dismantled here or not."

But he did not give any timeframe for the decision.

The Greenpeace site does not mention what contaminants Alfaship contains and the Bangladesh authorities concerned also have no information about the alleged toxic materials.

Environmental activists here have censured the arrival of Alfaship in Bangladesh waters without government permission.

"The entry of Alfaship is illegal because it's a toxic ship. We have served a legal notice on the government so that it tells the ship to leave Bangladesh waters," Rizwana Hassan of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association said.

The oil tanker was built in Nagasaki, Japan, and was sold to Polembros Shipping Ltd of Greece in 2002. It was last anchored off St Petersburg, Russia on August 28, 2005, according to Greenpeace.

Kashem, who owns a shipbreaking yard, later bought the vessel, he told the news agency.

Last February, the government refused to allow the scrapping of the asbestos-lined luxury ocean liner SS Norway in Sitakunda shipbreaking area, the second biggest in the world after Alang in India.

That ban came a day after French President Jacques Chirac had ordered the asbestos-lined warship Clemenceau, on its way to India for scrapping, back home from the Indian Ocean.

Shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh dismantle up to 80 ships, mostly oil tankers, a year. Operating on Sitakunda beach, 25 kilometres or 17 miles north of Chittagong City, they directly or indirectly employ 300,000 people.

Source: The Daily Star. 1 May 2006

http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/01/d60501012216.htm

ALFA AMERICA - IMO 7716048

Photographer: Enrico Righetti       

Ship Name: ALFA AMERICA

IMO number: 7716048

Category: Crude Oil Tankers

Description: 1979 Mitsubishi ex FINA AMERICA, NORDIC FAITH, renamed ALFASHIP. Scrapped Bangladesh April 2006

Gt: 51474

Dwt: 90000

Ship Name: SING LEE

IMO: 7716048

Flag: Bahamas

Source: ShipSpotting.Com

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=74359

Bangladesh govt. rejects SS Norway, welcome by NGO platform:

The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking applauds the Bangladeshi government’s decision demanding full decontamination of the SS Norway.

Brussels, 17 February 2006: A coalition of environmental, anti asbestos and human rights organisations today celebrate a further victory in the battle to prevent toxic end-of-life ships being sent to developing countries for shipbreaking.

Following the French government’s decision to take back the asbestos laden ex-aircraft carrier Clemenceau, the Bangladeshi Minister of Environment announced yesterday that his government will not let another notoriously contaminated ship, the SS Norway, enter his country’s waters before it has been fully decontaminated. The wreck contains 1,250 tonnes of asbestos and other toxics on board. The government took this decision after the director of Jiri Subedar Ship Breaking Yard announced, on Wednesday, that the contract for the purchase of the Norway had been finalised.

Like the Clemenceau, the Norway – as long as not fully decontaminated - is to be considered hazardous waste as defined in the Basel Convention and Council Regulation (EEC) 259/93/EEC on Shipments of Waste. Both cases indicate that India and Bangladesh are ready to send a clear signal to Europe, and the rest of the OECD countries, that decontamination of ships domestically is needed before export.

The NGO Platform applauds their efforts to protect the environment and workers’ health from asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals and other toxic wastes. We also welcome President Chirac’s initiative to find both international and European solutions, and call on the EU to ensure proper follow-up so that the waste problems are not simply exported to vulnerable workers and the environment in the developing world’s shipbreaking yards.

End-of-life ships are the most significant stream of illegal waste exports from Europe to poorer countries in Asia, leaving them with a toxic waste and occupational health management burden violating the principles of human rights, environmental justice, “polluter pays” and producer responsibility. So that ships can be scrapped in an environmentally sound and safe manner, other shipbreaking countries should echo Bangladesh’s decision and shipowners should take responsibility for their waste by fully decontaminating their vessels before sending them to Asian shipbreaking yards.

The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking will continue to work for this on a global scale.

Source: The NGO Platform for Shipbreaking. 17 February 2006

Don’t put Clemenceau and Norway in same category:

Letter To The Editor:

SIR, I write in response to the continuing attention by the media and non-governmental organisations on efforts to recycle the Clemenceau and the SS Norway.

These ships are being lumped into a single category of “what is wrong with ship recycling”. Further inspection, however, shows a significant difference in the efforts of the two ownership groups to engage in responsible ship recycling for their respective vessels. 

Clemenceau:

The Clemenceau has received the lion’s share of attention in the media, and various nations have bowed to politics and responded by making irrational decisions, disallowing the ship to even enter their territorial waters. But what steps have actually taken place, amid the controversy and confusion, to ensure that the Clemenceau is recycled in a responsible manner?

First, the French government performed, at least some, pre-cleaning work and removed significant amounts of asbestos from the ship. Questions remain as to the amount of asbestos remaining, but some level of remediation has occurred. 

French Warship - The Clemenceau

Next, the ship was sold for recycling at Alang, with a reported additional involvement of an environmental engineering firm that is to be involved in further remediation and disposal of hazardous materials at Alang.

Despite NGO claims that Alang has “no facility for handling of PCBs, etc” (‘Clemenceau likely to contain cancer-causing PCBs’; newKarala.com), the Gujarat Maritime Board launched a new hazardous waste reception facility in 2005, specifically for the treatment and disposal of such materials near Alang.

In summary, the French government has:

1) Performed some level of remediation work to clean the Clemenceau of asbestos, and

2) Sold the ship to a shipyard that has reported the involvement of an environmental remediation firm to handle additional hazardous materials from the ship upon arrival. If proper reporting and project transparency are involved in the latter stages of this operation, it would appear that this project is being developed, theoretically, in an environmentally and occupationally responsible manner.

SS Norway:

According to Greenpeace, the SS Norway is known to hold approximately 1,200 tons of asbestos and will surely hold significant amounts of PCBs and other hazardous materials.

To date, no reports have been made as to any agreements for the proper removal and disposal of these hazardous materials. The fate of the Norwayis yet unknown, so the possibility exists that proper remediation work may eventually occur.

However, to date this is not the case. So why is all the attention then focused on Clemenceau and almost nothing on Norway?

One owner has apparently made significant strides toward responsible ship recycling and the other appears to have made no effort whatsoever to reach this goal. Secondly, one ship allegedly has almost 40 times more asbestos than the other. Yet, the world seems to be silent. Could it be that western governments make soft, juicy targets?

While intense pressure from NGOs have led to increased awareness on ship recycling as a whole, strides to actually conduct responsible ship recycling in India should be recognised as such, and not merely discarded as more of the same.

Ted Higson, Consultant, Global Ship Recycling Solutions LLC, United States

Source: Llyoid’s List. LetterToTheEditor. By Ted Higson. 8 February 2006  

http://www.gmsinc.net/gms/news/february_8_2006_clemenceau.pdf