Environment ministry denies docking permission to US toxic ship Platinum -II
10 Nov 2009
A former US naval ship heading for break-up at a scrap at yard in Gujarat has been barred entry by the union government. According the ministry of environment and forests, it has inspected the ship, Platinum-II and found it contained toxic material.
Concerns have also been voiced about the ship having been brought to India with false documentation, according to the ministry.
The ship, which had reached Indian waters last month, was denied permission to dock until it received clearance following investigation.
Green activists claimed the ship contained potentially toxic materials that may be harmful to workers tasked with ship breaking. However, a panel of five experts, in October, found nothing objectionable on board the ship.
According to an office memorandum sent from the union ministry, "...in keeping with the `Precautionary Principle', the ministry is of the view that granting permission for beaching and breaking purposes of the ship will not be advisable."
The memorandum adds, "It has been brought to the notice of the ministry of environment and forests that the ship violated United States Toxic Substances Control Act and an order has been passed by the US Environment Protection Authority against the owners of the ship."
