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Greenpeace calls on UK owner of Genova Bridge to bear the cost of detoxifying ship

Alang/Ahemdabad/Mumbai/New Delhi, 20 November, 2003 - Greenpeace has called upon
"V Ships Commercial", the UK owner of Genova Bridge to submit toxic inventory of the ship to the Indian authorities immediately and make arrangements to remove and re-import the hazardous waste from the ship to United Kingdom. The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior last week tracked the end-of-life vessel Genova Bridge to Alang, India - the world's largest ship breaking yard. Greenpeace demands that the British owner and the British authorities ensure that the toxic materials onboard of this ship will be removed safely and taken back to England for final disposal.

Greenpeace hails the Ministry of Environment and Forest's directive to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to inspect Genova Bridge for toxic substances following Greenpeace alert and expects them to ensure that "V Ships Commercial" will take on the liability for all toxic substances on board their ship as required by the Supreme Court of India and the Basel Convention.

Greenpeace also denies reports in newspapers about Rainbow Warrior's alleged "cat and mouse games with Gujarat authorities". At no point, was the sailing vessel chased by Police and Maritime authorities. "We have cooperated with Gujarat Maritime Board, Indian Customs and Coast Guards throughout our presence in Alang. Rainbow Warrior continues to conduct 'toxic patrols' in International waters for ships that are headed for Alang and is committed to reporting
ships-for-scrap violating the Supreme Court directives to the authorities while we are here", said Cosmo Wassenaar, Captain of the Rainbow Warrior.

Mr. Jan Verhoef, an independent marine engineer and specialist in hazardous substances, said: "It is impossible that ships like Genova Bridge built more than 30 years ago will be free of toxics. It is bound to have huge quantities of toxic chemicals and I urge the Indian authorities to look closely for PCBs, TBT, Heavy Metals, Asbestos and sludge in the structure of the ship."

He additionally recommends that the GPCB team use the toxic inventory form in the Industry Code of Practice on Ship recycling, issued by the Industry Working Party on Ship Recycling to conduct their inspection.

"V Ships Commercial" and the United Kingdom government should adhere to the Basel Convention, the IMO guidelines and Indian Supreme Court directives. They have very little choice but to bear the cost of safe removal and re-import to UK of the toxic waste and not dump these liabilities on Indian ship-breaker or Indian government", said Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace shipbreaking campaigner.

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British ships sent to India for scrap while US ghost fleet is denied entry to UK

Read live updates from the Rainbow Warrior's voyage in India in the crew weblog from the Rainbow Warrior.