Oslo, 6th March 2002: Greenpeace today accused the Norwegian ship owner Bergesen of dumping toxic waste in Asia. The 25 year old Berge Ingerid, which is contaminated with hazardous substances such as asbestos, PCB's and toxic paint has been sold to a German company that intends to scrap it in Asia. The vessel is currently off East Africa sailing towards the Arabian Gulf, where it will be turned over to the new owners, Eckhardt Marine. The deal breaches the 1995 Basel Convention, which bans toxic steel waste exports from the OECD to non-OECD countries. Greenpeace is demanding that the ship is returned to an OECD country for proper toxic decontamination.
"Bergesen is using Asia as a dumping ground for their toxic waste. It is scandalous that they send ships contaminated with hazardous substances to breaking sites where they are putting peoples' health and the environment at risk. Both these companies know people have no or little possibility to handle such waste in a safe way" says Truls Gulowsen of Greenpeace.
IMO meeting
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is meeting in London this week to discuss how the shipping industry should take responsibility for its waste. Many ships owners are advocating voluntary regulatory measures. Bergesen claim that they are following the voluntary Industry Code on Ship Recycling developed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
However, Bergesen admit that they have sold the Berge Ingerid knowing it was going to be scrapped in Asia, and deny responsibility for the scrapping of the ship. According to Greenpeace, the Berge Ingerid is a case that clearly shows voluntary industry codes, like the ISC, do not work well enough.
Voluntary codes
"This is a classic case which proves voluntary agreements are not enough. Governments and international organisations urgently need to develop internationally binding agreements to address ships-for-scrap, to stop toxic waste from being exported to Asia. It is not sufficient to delay this for another decade," says Gulowsen.
Greenpeace has requested Bergesen present an inventory of hazardous substances on the Berge Ingerid, as advised by the shipping industry's own recommendations of voluntary measures, but the company has so far refused. Greenpeace has also requested permission to board the ship to make possible an assessment of hazardous substances, this too has been refused by Bergesen. Greenpeace demands that the Berge Ingerid should be decontaminated in an OECD country before being sent for scrapping in a non-OECD country.
"Companies such as Bergesen must be prevented from exploiting people and environments around the globe. Responsibility for safe disposal cannot be offloaded at the same time as the ship is passed over to a scrap dealer like Eckhardt. Ship owners continue to circumvent strict rules and higher costs for safe removal of hazardous materials in OECD countries like Norway, by exporting the problems to others", added Gulowsen.
Another ship owned by Bergesen, the Berge Odel, is also on the Greenpeace-list.
Remarkable ships Pacific Princess ('Love Boat') is on the Greenpeace list. More remarkable ships...
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