Skip navigation.

Toxic ghost fleet

Greenpeace activists block ship containing toxic asbestos entering shipbreaking yard. Enlarge Image

Ship ruled toxic waste

Today the highest court in the Netherlands ruled that a ship containing asbestos, heavy metals and other toxic material should be classified as toxic waste.

Six Greenpeace activists climb onto the European cargo ship 'SEA BEIRUT' as it tries illegally to enter a Turkish shipbreaking yard on the 4th May 2002 Enlarge Image

Turkey rejects toxic ship...

Every year, hundreds of sea vessels retire to the once clean beaches of Asia. In addition to their valuable steel, these old ships often contain hazardous substances that place their workers and the environment in danger. Despite agreement under the Basel Convention requiring every country to take responsibility for its own waste, the French toxic ship "Sea Beirut" attempted to enter Turkey illegally. A new court decision now forces the French government to take back the ship and clean it up before re-exporting it for scrap.

Worker scrapping ship at Alang scrap yard Enlarge Image

US plans to dump toxic navy ships on poor countries

It's a logical premise - industrialised nations should not dump their waste on developing countries. Developing countries have enough problems, they don't need toxic and hazardous wastes dumped on them as well. But logic is not a word that is often associated with the US government these days.

View of ship breaking yard where hazardous materials onboard ships cause pollution and endanger workers. Enlarge Image

France reclaims toxic ship

After being caught illegally exporting ships containing hazardous waste to Turkey, the French military has seized a former french aircraft carrier they had sold for scrapping. This high seas tale exposes again the underhand tactics and cost cutting of some sections of the shipping industry at the expense of the environment and workers' health.

Activists protest in front of two UK ships being broken in India. The export of toxic chemicals to other countries is illegal under the Basel Convention. Enlarge Image

UK's own ghost ship in India

There's outrage in the UK! The US is sending its "ghost fleet," complete with asbestos and toxic chemicals, for dismantling in England. The UK government has said the ships will have to go back. A British court has put a halt to any dismantling. Permits have been revoked. But meanwhile, in India, guess what Greenpeace's ghost-busting toxic patrol has found?

The International Maritime Organisation's most visible action in response to the Prestige oil spill: a move to evict Greenpeace. Enlarge Image

IMO seeks to remove Greenpeace

One year following the Prestige oil spill, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has done nothing to prevent further catastrophes. Instead, the organisation is trying to remove the consultative status of one of its most outspoken critics: Greenpeace. Here's what you can do to help ensure the IMO has to factor in the voice of the planet and its people when it makes decisions, rather than just the voices of vested interests in the shipping industry.

IMO rejects proposal to evict Greenpeace from the UN body responsible for governance of the oceans. Enlarge Image

Victory! Greenpeace stays in IMO

The International Maritime Organisation, which was considering expulsion of Greenpeace for "unsafe seamanship" has accepted Greenpeace's arguments and bowed to pressure from cyberactivists the world over -- Greenpeace will continue to speak for the oceans in a body dominated by the interests of the oil and shipping industries.

Rainbow Warrior on toxic patrol in India Enlarge Image

The front line of environmental crime

While we were battling in the rarefied, elite corridors of power at a UN meeting to maintain a voice for protection rather than exploitation of the oceans, our flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, was at the sharp end of environmental exploitation - the ship breaking beaches of India. Discover what it is like to be onboard the Rainbow Warrior for the first time and confronting environmental crimes first hand.

With international agreement that ships can be considered toxic waste, better controls on shipbreaking should result. Enlarge Image

Victory - Toxic ship export controlled

In a major victory for the environment and workers in developing nations the dumping of old ships, often containing tonnes of toxic trash, has now been controlled under international law. This should mean an end to toxic horrors such as workers sorting asbestos with their bare hands on open beaches in Asia.

Go to your national site

World websites

GREENPEACE EMAIL

Sign up for international email updates
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Related news stories

Related news releases

Related campaigns