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US plans to dump toxic navy ships on poor countries

Ship being scrapped, Alang, Gujarat, India. Enlarge Image

See you in India...

The trade in toxic waste is outlawed in many countries. However this trade still continues away from the public gaze or under another name. We teamed up with internet activists to expose a common form of toxic waste trade.

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.

Ship being scrapped, Alang, Gujarat, India. Enlarge Image

Nature reserve or scrap yard?

The little known west African state of Guinea Bissau, sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, includes the Bijagos Archipelagos. The islands are home to a huge range of wildlife and are an internationally recognised wildlife reserve and important local fisheries. Sounds like a fabulous place to dump toxic ships, doesn't it?

Workers at Alang shipbreaking yard Enlarge Image

Tricks of the trade

The ship breaking industry provides one of the clearest examples of exploiting the environment and workers for profit. But thanks to the exposure of this toxic trade and public pressure, the industry is slowly realising it must clean up its act. Help us maintain the pressure.

Greenpeace activists scale the EU building 'Berlaymont' and display a giant banner stating "Clean toxic ships now". Enlarge Image

Deadly asbestos exported to Asia

Asbestos is cleaned from buildings in Europe because of the hazards to human health. But Europe still exports asbestos to Asia in the form of old ships full of hazardous waste which are scrapped on beaches by unprotected workers. We are acting to put an end to this practice.

Obsolete vessels from the US National Defense Reserve Fleet, or ghost fleet, anchored in the James River, near Norfol, VA. Thirteen of the vessels contain toxic materials and are slated to be towed to the UK for shipbreaking. Enlarge Image

Toxic ghost fleet

Two former US Navy ships are now crossing the Atlantic for scrapping in the UK. Contaminated with toxic waste, the failure of the US to clean them up at home has caused outrage in Europe. But have a closer look at the issue of shipbreaking: putting toxic vessels out of sight and out of mind is the rule rather than the exception -- and the recipients are usually developing countries.

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?

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.

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