Hazardous ex-US Ship a threat to India's environmental security

Note: ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) wrote to G K Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping
informing him about the dumping of dead & hazardous US Ship, former Exxon Valdez in Indian waters on April 2, 2012. Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB)has consistently been indulgent towards hazardous waste trade under the influence of vested interests. GPCB was indulgent towards illegal traffic of Le Clemenceau, Riky, Blue Lady and the US ship Platinum II (MV Oceanic, SS Independence).

Gopal Krishna

'Toxic' vessel Exxon Valdez headed for Alang yard

AHMEDABAD: Exxon Valdez, the massive crude oil tanker that caused one of the worst-ever oil spills in Alaska in 1989, is set for ship breakers' torches.

The 213,000-tonne tanker, which was repaired and converted into ore-carrying vessel after the accident, is said to be headed for Alang, the biggest ship recycling yard in Asia, located in the Gulf of Cambay. Even as environmentalists worldwide have condemned it as a "toxic" ship, sources in Alang, who are in know of the vessel, said that there are thin chances of the oil tanker carrying any hazardous material.

Alang, which has always remained on the radar of environmentalists, faces no imminent threat from the vessel, officers in the Gujarat pollution control board said.

"It is no more an oil tanker. It is just an ore transporting vessel after conversion. So we don't think there can be any hazardous material in the ship," said a senior GPCB officer in Alang.

Exxon Valdez, which has changed several hands in the past, has been renamed Oriental Nicety and was purchased by Alang-based Blue Oasis, a subsidiary of Priya Blue Industries led by Sanjay Mehta for an "undisclosed amount".

The 300-meter long vessel is said to have been purchased from China-based COSCO Shanghai Ship Management company for around $16 million. Mehta could not be reached for comments and he did not reply to TOI's e-mails.

The Times of India | Apr 4, 2012