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Companies that would do the dismantling claim that they are no longer able to keep the hull on the high seas
The companies MSK Maritime Services & Trading, from the Netherlands, and SÖK, from Turkey, responsible for transporting and dismantling the aircraft carrier that belonged to the Brazilian Navy Nae São Paulo, called the United Nations (UN), environmental agencies and representatives of the Brazilian, Turkish and French governments, reporting what they call a “lack of assistance from the Brazilian authorities in finding a solution for the ship” which is the subject of endless controversy.
In the communiqué addressed to the UN and other international bodies, the companies cite the judicial process of the Government of Pernambuco against the Federal Government and the financial loss of keeping the aircraft carrier at sea, which already amount to around US$ 5 million. “Unfortunately, the authorities simply ignored our situation and acted as if this financial bleeding had nothing to do with them, even though they were the true owners of this waste for about a year”, points out the material.
The former Navy aircraft carrier, which has always been the subject of controversy and damage to public coffers, was sold to the SÖK shipyard. In August, the vessel was being taken from Rio de Janeiro by an MSK tugboat, but when it arrived close to the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, it was prevented from following its path by the Moroccan government, due to the more than 10 tons of asbestos that the hull carries. , material considered carcinogenic.
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The order from the Navy, then, was that the aircraft carrier be berthed in the Port of Suape, on the coast of Pernambuco. But the Government of Pernambuco called the Federal Court to prevent the procedure from taking place, due to the health and environmental risk and the local port operation itself. The vessel, now considered a ghost ship, is still on the high seas, awaiting a resolution of the controversy so that it can be moored somewhere.
In addition to the damage, companies also predict environmental damage for keeping the aircraft carrier on the high seas
In the communication to the UN and other world bodies, MSK and SÖK further argue that the Basel Convention determines that the exporting country, in this case Brazil, is responsible for accepting the return of exported waste, which is an international obligation, with the to the Navy, and not to the State of Pernambuco or the Port of Suape, to provide for maritime ports and determine the destination of the vessel, which is close to the coast of Pernambuco burning fuel to the detriment of the maritime fauna and flora.
The material was sent to Ibama's Environmental Quality Board; to Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincent, UN Legal Adviser for the Environment; Emilia Wahlstrom, UN Director for the Environment; the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion of France; the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions; the United Nations Environment Program; Claude Wohrer, France's Secretary General of Maritime Affairs; Jean Romnicianu, French diplomat; the Chancellor of Türkiye in France; Sadiye Karabulut, head of the Circular Economy and Waste Management Department of Turkey; in addition to the Turkish consulate in São Paulo.
“We stated several times that the Brazilian authorities should intervene responsibly in this regard and indicate us a place to dock, but unfortunately we did not find any serious response. On the contrary, despite all our efforts, the authorities refused to provide solid and efficient assistance and the convoy remained on the high seas, with inappropriate excuses. Indeed, it could easily be considered irresponsible as the required Salvage Master Report clearly stated that damage to the waste must be repaired without too much delay,” the statement reads.
All Brazilian ports rejected the ghost ship
The legal responsible for representing the companies MSK and SÖK says that he “lost hope of a safe place in Pernambuco” (to dock the aircraft carrier) and that all port terminals in Brazil refused the aircraft carrier, after the repercussion of the controversy. Check out the full statement sent to the UN and other international bodies below:
"Dear sirs,
As the subject is very well known and all parts are quite familiar, we see no reason to repeat the entire history of the project from the beginning, but we certainly believe that we should at least emphasize what has happened since our convoy was wrongfully declared “illegal”. due to the information of false and unsubstantiated allegations on 26 August 2022, after leaving Brazil on 4 August, after completion of all required procedures and in accordance with all relevant regulations.
Our company, Sok Denizcilik, has always acted accordingly and respected the regulations, laws and rules since its foundation, therefore we follow the instructions of the competent authority of the exporting country, Ibama, regarding the return of waste (according to the Basel Convention) to the exporting country, Brazil.
On October 05, 2022, the convoy arrived on the roads of Suape (District of Pernambuco-BR), at the location indicated to us by the Brazilian Navy.
Although we had asked several times during the return journey, unfortunately no refugee port (or at least an anchorage) was designated. On the contrary, we were ordered to keep the “waste” out of Brazilian inland waters, as if the waste had not been exported from Brazil or owned by Brazil.
At the same time, we were instructed to provide a Master Salvage Report as damage was determined to the waste on arrival. We completed the same report which was also supported by an underwater survey and also obtained the Non-Coral Sun Report. These were the items that were instructed to us in order to obtain permission to enter the inland waters. During that time, we participated in several meetings with the Navy, Engeprom and local authorities to declare our intention to find a suitable way that would allow us to continue the project that was the recycling and environmentally correct disposal of Brazilian waste.
We stated several times that the Brazilian authorities should intervene responsibly in this regard and indicate us a place to dock, but unfortunately we did not find any serious response. On the contrary, despite all our efforts, the authorities refused to provide solid and efficient assistance and the convoy remained on the high seas, with inappropriate excuses. Indeed, it could easily be considered irresponsible, as the required Salvage Master Report clearly stated that waste damage must be repaired without too much delay.
As we waited for a secure anchorage for the repairs and completion of the necessary procedure to restart the re-export process, all we were met with were refusals and more refusals with unreasonable excuses. In the end, the Brazilian Waste (hull of the former Nae São Paulo) was completely rejected for any type of entry into inland waters in Recife (PE), as the State Government opened a lawsuit against the Federal Government.
Suddenly, our convoy, and indeed our company, has just become the victim of a vendetta in which we were not even a party. This conflict has already cost us around US$5 million, which could easily be considered a small fortune. Unfortunately, the authorities simply ignored our plight and acted as if this financial bleeding had nothing to do with them, even though they had been the true owners of this waste for about a year now.
Losing hope of a safe place in Pernambuco (which was ordained for us as a destination by the Navy…) so we tried all possible options; all shipyards and almost all ports in Brazil, but all ended up with more refusals. We even tried, with our own capabilities, to find a place to anchor, but with the instruction of the Navy regarding the prohibition of any anchorage, that also became impossible.
In the end, despite all our efforts, we were unable to obtain the necessary support from the Authorities that would allow us to continue this project. As we have stated several times, our intention was to complete the re-export procedure and complete the recycling and disposal of Brazilian waste in accordance with the contract we signed. However, today it has been 77 days since our arrival and yet all our requests for assistance and cooperation have been completely ignored. Which leads us to conclude that we are no longer in a position to maintain this recycling and waste disposal project, especially while any of the states involved assume no responsibility.
It should also be appreciated by the parties involved that we, as a professional, Green Ship approved and certified recycling yard, make every effort to continue sustainability and protect the environment from day one of our involvement. From now on, any action we take will only be to protect ourselves from the “battles” of which we are certainly not a part, nor a border.”
