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S.S. Norway awaits customs clearance

Special Correspondent

Reports say it is laden with at least 900 tonnes of hazardous asbestos

GANDHINAGAR: Norwegian cruise liner S.S. Norway, nicknamed "Blue Lady," dropped anchor at the Pipavav port in the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat on Friday, awaiting customs clearance and inspection by experts of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

GPCB chairman K.V. Bhanujan said the board had constituted an experts' committee for inspection, as per the Supreme Court's directive. It would wait for the customs officials to check the papers and give clearance for the inspection.

The Blue Lady, which was purchased by the Haryana Ship Demotion Private Limited for dismantling at the Alang ship-breaking yard in Bhavnagar in the State, kicked up a controversy following reports that it was laden with at least 900 tonnes of hazardous asbestos. This was much more than what French warship Clemenceau, which was ordered to return to France by its President following objections raised by the Supreme Court, had onboard.

In the case of the Blue Lady, the apex court set a condition that the ship must be thoroughly inspected by the GPCB, which should submit a report to a Supreme Court committee for clearance to dock at Alang for dismantling.

Mr. Bhanujan could not say how much time it would take for the GPCB panel to complete the inspection and submit the report. But the members said it would at least be a month before the ship could be expected to reach Alang, if everything was found in order.

During the Clemenceau controversy last year, the Gujarat Maritime Board had rented out the yard to different leaseholders. But now, it had completed the construction of pits for the disposal of hazardous material.

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S.S. Norway awaits customs clearance

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