8 December 2004 - Warning in Greenpeace report on global phase-out of tankers
A new analysis by Greenpeace warns of serious environmental contamination of Asian beaches as a result of a global phase-out of single-hull oil tankers. 'Destination Unknown: European single hull oil tankers... No place to go' reveals the lack of shipbreaking yards capable of scrapping ships in an environmentally clean way. Greenpeace is calling on the European Union, which is responsible for one-third of such tankers, to take urgent action to protect human health and the environment in the world's shipbreaking yards. Greenpeace activists confront EU delegations in Ankara (Turkey), and Mumbai (India), to express the repeated demand from these countries not to become the global waste dump for rotting and polluted tankers.

28 September 2004 - Greenpeace delegation visits Malta
An international delegation of Greenpeace visits Malta, which became a new EU member in 2004. In a press conference, Greenpeace details Malta's role as the worlds second largest exporter of toxic ships in Asia. After a few days of talking and lots of publicity, the Maltese Ministers of Maritime Affairs and of Environment acknowledge the responsibility of Malta for the breaking of thousands of Maltese flagged ships. They promise that Malta will follow Europe's position on the issue.

30 June 2004 - Greenpeace: 'Prevent illegal export of Clemenceau'
Greenpeace calls on the Indian government to prevent the deemed illegal export of the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau. The French Ministry of Defence announced that the laid-off Clemenceau will be sent to India to be scrapped, still containing hazardous materials including asbestos. In 2003 states like Turkey and Greece refused the Clemenceau entry in their waters forcing the French authorities to take the ship back.

24 June 2004 - Greenpeace letter to President of Panama after tragic incident
Greenpeace asks the President of Panama, Martin Torrijos, what he is going to do to prevent tragic accidents like the one on the shipbreaking beach in Chittagong (Bangladesh). On 7 June 2004 one person was killed and thousands of people exposed to serious health risks, when gas leaking from a tank on the Panama flagged ship Gaz Med caused the release of toxic fumes.

29 March 2004 - Greenpeace observes MEPC51
Greenpeace is present as observer at the Marine Environmental Protection Committee 51 (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). MEPC discusses the outstanding issues in relation to the Guidelines on Shiprecycling that were adopted at IMO's General Assembly in December 2003. In an intervention Greenpeace urges MEPC to make elements of the guidelines mandatory and make them in compliance with the Basel Convention.

23 March 2004 - Greenpeace joins British alliance
After the much criticised arrival of four ghosts (MARAD) ships to the United Kingdom Greenpeace, the British Labour Union GMB and Labour MP Peter Mandelson form a joint alliance to change the current practices in shipbreaking. The aim of their project is to ensure that British shipowners will recycle their ships in state-of-the-art facilities in Britain or similar state-of-the-art facilities in the European Union.

5 December 2003 - Report 'Playing Hide and Seek': cases of ship scrapping
Greenpeace releases a new report: 'Playing hide and seek'. The report shows that voluntary guidelines on ship recycling do not work and reinforces the need for international, mandatory guidelines on ship breaking. It documents numerous cases in which ship owners have sent vessels containing toxic materials to Asia for scrap in spite of the voluntary guidelines on shipbreaking.

26 November 2003 - Greenpeace critices Indian authorities
Greenpeace criticises Gujarat Pollution Control Board 's (GPCB) directive to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to remove asbestos and other hazardous waste on board Genova Bridge. The GPCB wants it to be stored at a landfill in the hinterlands of Gujarat. Greenpeace calls this illegal and irresponsible, because it does not address the illegality of the import of this hazardous waste.

25 November 2003 - Greenpeace calls on future Prime Minister Canada to come clean on Toxic Ship
Greenpeace releases a report calling on the future Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin to 'come clean' on the international trade in toxic ships. The environmental group documented the 2002 export of the Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) ship Manitoulin to a shipbreaking yard in Turkey, in possible violation of international regulations on the trade in hazardous waste. At the time of the export, Paul Martin was the owner of CSL.

24 November / 5 December 2003 - Greenpeace at IMO annual meeting
At the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) annual meeting Greenpeace urges IMO delegates to adopt a mandatory, global regulatory scheme (in compliance with the Basel Convention) - which would require ship owners to ensure that ships are cleaned of toxic materials before export. Greenpeace's demands are being backed by shipbreakers in India and the authorities in India, Bangladesh and Turkey. But the IMO adopts only voluntary guidelines on ship recycling.

21 November 2003 - IMO backs away from expulsion Greenpeace
The IMO, which was considering expulsion of Greenpeace for 'unsafe seamanship' has accepted Greenpeace's arguments and bowed to pressure from cyberactivists all over the world. Greenpeace will continue to speak for the oceans in a body dominated by the interests of the oil and shipping industries.

20 November 2003 - Greenpeace calls on UK owner of Genova Bridge
Greenpeace calls upon 'V Ships Commercial', the UK owner of the Genova Bridge to submit a toxic inventory of the ship to the Indian authorities immediately. The ship owner should also make arrangements to remove and re-import the hazardous waste from the ship to the United Kingdom. Greenpeace hails the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forest's directive to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to inspect the Genova Bridge for toxic substances following a Greenpeace alert.

12 November 2003 - Greenpeace uncovers British ships sent to India for scrap
As the British government continues to refuse permits for scrapping the first of the controversial US navy 'ghost ships' which arrive in the UK today, Greenpeace has uncovered British vessels being shipped to India - contravening international agreements and in breach of national laws in India. The Rainbow Warrior has tracked the end-of-life vessel 'Genova Bridge' to Alang, India.

12 November 2003 - Rainbow Warrior on 'Toxic Patrol' in India
The Greenpeace sailing vessel Rainbow Warrior is anchored off the coast of Alang, India. Alang is the site of the world's largest shipbreaking yard. Greenpeace starts conducting 'toxic patrols' of ships who are here waiting for scrapping. A team of experts will do a survey and take samples to determine what type of toxic materials are on board before the ships are beached and the actual scrapping starts.

7 November 2003 - Greenpeace calls on IMO to decide for a mandatory shipbreaking regime
In a submission for the Annual General Meeting of the IMO, Greenpeace signals that the IMO Guidelines on Shiprecycling, agreed upon in July 2003, will not at all solve the existing problem of on-going illegal export of waste to Turkey and Asia. In an earlier report Greenpeace signalled the profits ship-owners keep making by sending toxic ships to Asian breaking yards.

27 October 2003 - 1500 calls for urgent action to EU Environment Ministers
Prior to the meeting of the EU Environment Ministers in Luxembourg, Greenpeace activists
presented 1500 individual calls for urgent action to the Italian President of the European Environmental Council Mr Matteoli and to the EU Commissioner of Environment Ms Wallström. In its appeal to the assembled European ministers Greenpeace urged on the EU to stop the illegal export of end-of-life-ships containing toxic substances.

24 October 2003 - 'Symbol of shame' for delegations Basel Convention
At the conference of the so called Open Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG 2) in Geneva, Greenpeace presents a 'Symbol of Shame' to each delegation. These small ship shaped pieces of metal from the exploded scrapship Amina recall the lack of clarity so far given to this issue by the Basel Convention. The working group decides that the Convention also applies to the export of end-of-life-vessels for breaking. Greenpeace welcomes this decision as a major step forward.

7 October 2003 - 'Action alert' to European environmental inspectors
Greenpeace sends out an 'action alert' to environmental inspectors from all over Europe, by providing them with a list of 124 end-of-life vessels exported from Europe in 2003 without intervention from national inspectorates. The inspectors gather for a working conference in Maastricht (Netherlands) from 6-8 October. Greenpeace calls on them to enforce the current Waste Shipment Regulation regarding the export of end-of-life vessels.

26 September 2003 - India denies scrapship permission after Greenpeace alert
Indian customs authorities have denied the Norwegian LPG tanker Hesperus permission to beach for breaking at Alang shipbreaking yard, following an alert raised by Greenpeace on 11 September.

18 September 2003 - Follow-up of Greenpeace actions: ILO seminar in Turkey
The last prepatory seminar before the international ILO meeting in Bangkok takes place in Izmir, Turkey. During the ILO meeting in Bangkok (7 - 11 October) the organisation will adopt guidelines on shipbreaking. The seminar is organised in Turkey as a follow-up of actions of Greenpeace last year in Turkey, where Greenpeace requested the ILO and the Turkish trade union to improve labour conditions at the breaking yards in Turkey.

14 July 2003 - Greenpeace delivers remains of ships to IMO
Greenpeace delivers a sculpture, 2 by 5 metres, made from the remains of ships taken from Indian shipbreaking yards to delegates attending the International Maritime Organisation in London. The sculpture is made from the funnels of five old ships, one of which, the Greek owned Amina, exploded in the yard, killing 9 people and causing over a dozen serious injuries. Greenpeace appeals to IMO to adopt legally binding guidelines on shipbreaking to protect lives and the environment.

11 July 2003 - Turkish authorities turn back European ship after Greenpeace urge
After Greenpeace urged the Turkish authorities, they act and turn back the possibly hazardous waste containing ship Novocherkassk while it is being towed from Spain to Aliaga shipbreaking yards to be scrapped.

20 June 2003 - IMO withdraws consultative status of Greenpeace
The IMO Council decides to withdraw the consultative status of Greenpeace. The IMO Assembly has to make a final decision on this in November 2003, but the signal is clear.

19 June 2003 - Greenpeace team climbs EU-building
A team of Greenpeace climbs the EU building 'Berlaymont' and calls the European Union to adopt a mandatory legislation to make sure the shipping industry cleans its ships of hazardous materials before exporting them to Asia for scrap. Several banners reading 'Clean toxic ships now' were attached to the Berlaymont while others were placed in front of it. This building has been cleaned of asbestos some time ago.

2-20 June 2003 - European shipbreaking tour
Four representatives from shipbreaking yards in India and Bangladesh and the Greenpeace-campaigner in India start a three-week tour through Europe. Their aim: present the impact of the current polluting practices at the breaking yards to shipowners and politicians. They also seek cooperation in working towards a real solution to these problems. Bells from the shipbreaking yards in Alang, India, accompany them. They visit the politicians and shipowners in the Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Belgium.

2 June 2003 - Seminar on liability
Greenpeace and the International Institute for Asian Studies organise an international seminar in Amsterdam on liability for the scrapping of ships. Main conclusions: The international shipping community should agree upon an effective mandatory regime for clean shipbreaking and a liability chain that includes all stakeholders.

30 May 2003 - Container ship MSC Insa marked in Antwerp harbour
Greenpeace activists stamp the special shipbreaking warning sign on the 31-year old containership MSC Insa in the Belgian harbour of Antwerp. Greenpeace calls on the Mediteranean Shipping Company (MSC) to guarantee that soon-to-be-scrapped ships like MSC Insa will be decontaminated before they end up on Asian shipbreakingyards. It is the first time Greenpeace marks a seagoing vessel, after stamping warning signs on ships that were already sold for scrap.

23 May 2003 - Commitment Stolt Nielsen after negotiations with Greenpeace
After negotiations with Greenpeace in the Port of Rotterdam, American/Norwegian shipowner Stolt Nielsen commits to prevent future pollution and health threats associated with the breaking of ships. The company has a history of dumping contaminated ships on Indian beaches.

7 May 2003 - Succes cyber action Bolama Beach
As a result of the first thousands of e-mails from all over the world, Unesco has sent a research mission to Guinee Bissau to assess the situation if Bolama Beach turned into a scrapyard.

24 April 2003 - Greenpeace marks scrapship in Danish harbour
Eight Greenpeace activists stamp a warning sign on the stern of the scrapship Giovanna in the harbour of Århus, Denmark. A metal scrap-ship-logo is attached to the back end of the ship to mark that the ship is ready for scrap and risks ending its days on a beach in India. The 25 year old chemical tanker Giovanna has been abandoned as a ghost ship in the harbour for the last year and a half.

9 April 2003 - Cyber action for Bolama Beach
Greenpeace along with a coalition of International groups have announced their opposition to a proposed shipbreaking yard in the West African country of Guinea Bissau. The island belongs to the Bijagos archipelagos, a Unesco Biosphere reserve where animals like sea cows, hippopotamus, otters and 700 000 migratory birds are living.

9 April 2003 - Business as usual: letters tot shipowners
Greenpeace sends letters to around 20 shipowners listed on the top 50 of this website. These shipowners continue sending their highly toxic ships to Asian shipbreaking yards. Greenpeace holds these companies responsible for the environmental and health damage as a consequence of their 'business as usual' policy. Greenpeace will actively monitor the situation with regard to their vessels as they approach their 'End of Life'.

12 February 2003 - Kofi Annan: more needs to be done on safety of shipping
In an official response to a letter sent by Greenpeace International, the International Transport Worker's Federation and WWF International to the Secretary-General from the United Nations, Kofi A. Annan agreed that much more needs to be done on the safety of shipping. Greenpeace pleads for a full and unlimited liability for environmental disasters like the sinking of the Prestige.

India/The Netherlands, December 2002 - Fact finding mission to Indian shipbreakingyards
'We can see how workers cut steel plates from the ship with a large torch cutter. Old shears - there's one at every yard - hoist the steel pieces onto the wharf. Dozens of men twist their bodies in impossible angles to torch cut the steel into little pieces. It's hard physical, dangerous and unhealthy labour.' Greenpeace-campaigners Marietta Harjono and Frank Petersen visited Indian shipbreaking yards in Alang, Pipavav and Bombay last December. Read their travel report

Amsterdam, 8 October 2002 - GP finds toxic asbestos on ship for scrap
Greenpeace activists stamped a warning sign on the stern of the Greek owned ship for scrap 'Silver Ray' in Antwerp harbour today, confirming that the vessel is toxic waste. The move followed results of samples taken from the ship by the environmental organisation last week that confirmed the vessel contains asbestos and other hazardous materials.

Amsterdam, 4 October 2002 - Suspected toxic ship for scrap investigated
Greenpeace activists boarded a ship in Antwerp harbour this morning to investigate whether or not it contains hazardous materials and to start preparing a public inventory of findings. The environmental organisation is taking samples of the Greek owned ship, the 'Silver Ray', because it is concerned the vessel is about to be exported as scrap to a shipbreaking yard in Asia without first being cleaned of dangerous toxic materials. Last night, Greenpeace screened a film on the 'Silver Ray's' hull to highlight the human and environmental costs associated with dismantling ships that still have toxic substances on board.

Amsterdam, 12 September 2002 - Greenpeace follows toxic ship 'Gerd'
Tonight the Gerd, a ship destined for scrapping, will depart from the Port of Amsterdam. The ship contains toxic substances like asbestos and heavy metals. Greenpeace will follow the ship with inflatables to the IJmuiden Locks. After that Greenpeace will continue to track the chemical tanker through information from special contacts and through tips received via this special shipbreaking website. Greenpeace strongly suspects the ship has been sold - again - to shipbreakers.

Amsterdam, 19 July 2002 - Greenpeace confronts shipowner
Last night, Greenpeace paid an unexpected visit to a ship in Amsterdam harbour that it suspects is about to be sent to Asia for scrap without first being cleaned of dangerous toxic materials. The environmental organisation projected a movie onto the hull of the 'Gerd' to confront the ship's owner with the devastation it will cause if it sends its ship to Asia without decontaminating it first.

Paris/Istanbul, 17 July 2002 - Greenpeace takes French government to court
Greenpeace took legal action against the French government today to make sure it takes back a toxic ship it illegally exported to Turkey for scrap. Greenpeace is appealing to the French courts to suspend the decision of export, granted to the 'Sea Beirut' even though it contained hazardous asbestos. The environmental organisation has launched a separate appeal against the French maritime administration for abuse of power.

Izmir/Paris 5 May 2002 - Greenpeace intercepts European ship in Turkey
Greenpeace activists intercepted a European cargo vessel as it illegally attempted to enter a Turkish shipbreaking yard with dangerous toxic waste on board. The vessel Sea Beirut, with asbestos still on board, was towed from France to be scrapped at Aliaga, one of Turkey's notorious ship breaking yards. On 9 May 2002 the Turkish Minister of Environment confirmed the presence of asbestos on board the Sea Beirut. He notified all relevant authorities that Turkey must not allow the French toxic ship for scrap to enter the country. He has also said the vessel should return to France.

Luxemburg, 7 March 2002 - Greenpeace files complaint against Euronav
Greenpeace has filed a complaint against the administrators of Euronav to the state prosecutor in Luxembourg about a violation of the Basel Convention. Euronav Luxembourg has sold the oil tanker Flandre (built 1977) at the end of January to Bangladeshi breakers. The Flandre has recently arrived in Bangladesh. The tanker contains hazardous substances such as asbestos, toxic paint and PCBs. Export from the OECD to non-OECD countries of steel waste containing such substances is prohibited under the 1995 Basel Ban.

Izmir/Brussels, 14 January 2002 - Greenpeace occupies toxic ship on Turkish beach
Seventeen Greenpeace activists were arrested this morning after unfolding a banner that said 'Stop Toxic Shipbreaking' on board of a Swiss ship, "Star of Venice", which they had occupied at a shipbreaking yard in Aliaga, Turkey. They demanded an end to the poisonous practice of scrapping ships containing toxic materials, including asbestos, on Turkish beaches. Before the Turkish police made their arrest and confiscated one of the inflatable boats, the activists painted a text that said 'No Toxic Ship Trade' on a side of another old ship, the Best, which originated from Greece.

Hong Kong, 29 April 2000 - Protest against P&O Nedlloyd ship in Hong Kong harbour
Greenpeace activists took action to protest proposed and continued dumping of ships in China by P&O Nedlloyd. Greenpeace delegations have inspected the Chinese yards and the measures taken by P&O Nedlloyd after several actions in Europe, Asia and Australia. Greenpeace concluded that protection of workers and environment is completely insufficient.

New Delhi, India, 10 December 1999 - Greenpeace prevents toxic dumping in India
Having chained themselves to an anchor line overnight, our activists successfully delayed the beaching of cargo vessel 'Clare' destined for breaking at Alang - the world's largest shipbreaking yard in India. The export of hazardous ships-for-scrap to Asian shipbreaking yards, such as the highly polluted and unsafe facility in Alang, is effectively toxic waste dumping. The Indian Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into Greenpeace's allegations of toxic waste dumping via ships-for-scrap.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 9 November 1999 - Greenpeace protests the dumping of toxic ships to Asia
Activists protested plans to scrap the ocean carrier Tokio Express in China and demanded that its owner, Costamare Shipping and its operator Hapag-Lloyd ensure that hazardous materials are removed from the ship prior the scrapping. Activists painted warning messages in Chinese and Hindi on the hull of the ship while it docked at the port of Rotterdam. Hapag- Lloyd agreed to make an inventory of hazardous substances before the ship is sent for scrap. The inventory will be handed over to shipbreaking company.

Bielefeld/Hamburg, Germany, 10 May 1999 - Greenpeace protest German food co's export of asbestos to India
The German food company, Dr.Oetker, planned to scrap two asbestos contaminated ships in Asia, disregarding the fact that this endangers workers there. Greenpeace exposed the plan in a direct action at the Dr.Oetker office on the Jahnplatz in Bielefeld. Activists placed a 20 x 12 ft 'blow-up' photo under the company logo depicting Indian workers breaking up ships with the caption reading, 'Dr.Oetker exporting cancer'. Below the company was accused of producing 'pudding powder for Germans, asbestos dust for Indians'.

Singapore, 11 January 1999 - Environmentalists protest toxic ship export to Asia
Greenpeace and Basel Action Network (BAN) activists escorted the toxic contaminated ship Encounter Bay as it arrived in Singapore harbour, to protest against the export of toxic waste to Asia. In a daring waterborne protest the environmental activists flew banners reading 'P&O Nedlloyd Stop Toxic Trade' as the vessel approached the harbour. After it docked, they attached another giant banner to the side of the ship. Singapore is the fifth city where Greenpeace and BAN have protested against the ship as it made it final journey before being scrapped.

New Delhi, India, 21 January 1998 - Protest against the export of toxic ships-for-scrap to India
Greenpeace, Basel Action Network and Indian Trade Unions join hands to protest against the export of toxic ships-for-scrap to India. A wide spectrum of individuals and organisations including, activists from all the Indian central trade unions, people's movements and citizens' groups, came together in a peaceful and colourful protest against the US Government's decision to allow the US Navy and Federal Maritime Administration to export their toxic-laden ships to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

NOTE
In addition to these activities, Greenpeace has given presentations and presented views on shipbreaking at various global events to the shipping community as well as world wide governments at the shipbreaking conferences in Rotterdam and Philadelphia in 2001, in Amsterdam in 1999, and the meetings of the Basel Convention on waste trade and the IMO.