Malpractice at ship-for-scrap Sandrien - crew and environment victim of ship dealers

7th June 2002: Since February 2001, the 'Sandrien' has been docked in Amsterdam harbour. The ship is destined for demolition in one of Asia's shipbreaking yards. Conditions in the yards are unacceptable, both for the workers and the environment. Since December 2001, approximately twenty Indian crewmembers have been staying onboard the 'Sandrien', in desperate circumstances. They have not been paid, nor are they able to return home. However, the crew has paid the ship dealers for the maritime education they will receive while on board. The owner of the 'Sandrien', a group of ship dealers, had promised them work and a future despite the fact that the 'Sandrien' is not seaworthy, nor have they given any indication of a timetable for work that is required to make it so.

It is scandalous that these ship dealers who only have one thing in mind are using the crew in this callous way: making as much money as they can in trading ships-for-scrap such as the 'Sandrien'.

The 'Sandrien' has been impounded in Amsterdam harbour for more than a year and a half. The Dutch authorities only allowed the vessel to leave Amsterdam after undergoing fundamental repairs and under the condition that the vessel sails directly to its final destination in favourable weather conditions and without carrying cargo. Maritime Inspectors have made it clear to the owners, that the Sandrien's last voyage must be direct to the breakers yard. In addition, they also require the owners of the 'Sandrien' apply for an export license for waste because the ship contains asbestos and toxic waste. Until such a time as all the conditions are meet, the Dutch ministry will officially detain the ship.

Greenpeace has actively attempted, from the start, to get in touch with the owners of the vessel in order to establish a solution for the clean demolition of the ship. The owner(s), however are rather illusive, setting up offices in a number of different countries and communicate only through lawyers.

The Maritime Union, the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation), are representing the stranded crewmembers. At the end of last year, ITF arranged permission for the Indian crew to return home safely. But the ship's owners responded by sending a completely new crew to the ship in December 2001, even though they knew it was impossible for the ship to leave Amsterdam in its current condition. Greenpeace in conjunction with relevant unions is pushing for the establishment of strong international laws to protect the Asian environment from dirty ship breaking practises, as well as measures to prevent workers on board ships becoming the victims of malpractice by ship owners. The 'Sandrien' case is a clear example that more transparency is needed in the international shipping industry so that those responsible for such malpractice can be held accountable.

More about the Sandrien