The ship “Nae Sao Paulo”, which was sent back because it contains many hazardous toxic wastes, including asbestos, which is harmful to the environment and human health, after setting off to İzmir Aliağa for the dismantling process, cannot dock on land even though it reaches Brazil.
Brazilian media reports that in Pernambuco, where the ship is located, the State Environment Agency does not allow the ship to dock at Suape Port because it poses an environmental risk.
Poses a serious environmental risk
According to the news of Voa Turkish, Kürşat Yüzlü from Dux Shipping company, which provides consultancy services to Sök Shipping and is headquartered in Istanbul, said that the ship reached the location sent by the Brazilian Navy on October 2nd, but attempts to land the ship were unsuccessful.
Stating that the ship was waiting for 45-50 miles offshore, Yüzlü said, “The strengthening and waterproofing works required for the ship to safely cross the ocean using a tug were made by calculating that the ship would stay at sea for approximately one and a half months, but the ship has been at sea for 3 months. This poses a serious environmental risk. In addition, the remaining fuel in the Dutch-flagged Alp Center tugs carrying the ship is below the safe level and the stores of the nearly twenty crew working on the carrier ship are about to run out. We are ready to pay a reasonable price to dock at a suitable location, but we are not getting a positive response to our request.”
Brazilian Navy: We follow the process
In a statement released yesterday, the Brazilian Navy stated that they followed the administrative processes and procedures with diligence and caution and that the ship was off the coast of Pernambuco state for due diligence by a company to be chartered by Sök Shipping.
It is stated that the navy is monitoring the return of the old aircraft carrier to Brazil and continues to take the necessary measures for the safety of navigation, the protection of human life at sea, and the prevention of water pollution from ships.
Fernanda Giannasi, the founder of the Brazilian Association of People Exposed to Asbestos (ABREA), stated that the explanations of the former owner of the ship, the Brazilian Navy, about where the radioactive materials on the ship and where to detect asbestos are vague and contradictory.
Noting that the whole process has been managed without transparency since the tender, Giannasi points out that if the ship with asbestos sinks, a major environmental disaster may occur.
