Ship destined for illegal breaking in India found a new career
A gas tanker that was detained under suspicion it would be dismantled illegally has today (Thursday 29 October) been released by the UK Environment Agency. The Margaret Hill, a 50,700 tonne liquid natural gas tanker, was stopped from leaving Southampton docks in August this year. The Environment Agency took swift action after it received intelligence that the ship was bound for dismantling on the Indian subcontinent, where ships are routinely broken up on beaches in conditions which put workers and the environment at risk. Due to its age, the Margaret Hill is likely to contain hazardous materials such as asbestos.
Waste ships containing hazardous materials can only be dismantled at properly authorised dismantling facilities in either the EU or an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country.
Since detaining the ship in August the Environment Agency has worked with Fortress Credit Co LLC - which became the mortgagee in possession of the Margaret Hill - to find a suitable legal alternative. All parties to the sale and refurbishment have provided the necessary contracts and evidence to demonstrate there are no reasonable grounds to detain the vessel any longer.
The ship is now destined to be refurbished in Dubai before being put back to use as a floating treatment plant for liquid natural gas. It is due to sail to Dubai from Southampton docks as soon as practicable.
Liz Parkes, Head of Waste and Resource Management at the Environment Agency said: “There are laws in place to ensure that waste ships are dismantled in proper facilities where they will not harm people or the environment. We are pleased that the owners now intend to refurbish the ship rather than scrap it.”
Source : Ship Management International
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