Monday, 26 February 2007A ship that was refused entry to Turkish waters because it was carrying far more asbestos than was listed on its export license is now shaking up the new coalition government in Holland.
Under pressure from Greenpeace, the Dutch Council of State has rule that the Otapan should have never been permitted to leave Dutch waters. Pieter Van Geel, former Minister of the Environment and leader of the Christian Democrats, currently one of the main partners in the coalition government, will be called upon to account for the Otapan case.
"We are very pleased with this signal from the Council of State. The Netherlands may not export its environmental problems,' Greenpeace Nederland director Liesbeth van Tongeren said.
Turkish authorities refused to accept the ship, which had been moored in Amsterdam since 1999 and which Dutch authorities wanted to have demolished in Turkey for cost reasons, when it was determined that the ship was carrying far more asbestos than the one tonne listed on its export record. Subsequent tests put the final figure at 77 tonnes.
The Otapan, currently back in Amsterdam, is to be taken to a breaker's yard in Rotterdam on Friday.
Hurriyet
26 February 2007
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Monday, 26 February 2007
Asbestos-loaded ship
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