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Hull Is Full Of Substances That Threaten The Environment And Health. Therefore, It Was Blocked At The Port Of Pernambuco.
While it remains without a defined destination, the aircraft carrier São Paulo, the largest warship the Brazilian Navy has ever had (266 meters and almost 6,000 compartments), continues to cause controversies. The vessel is loaded with about 10 tons of asbestos (a carcinogenic material) and possibly contaminated with other toxic and radioactive materials. It set sail from Rio de Janeiro destined for Turkey back in August, after being purchased by a Turkish shipyard. However, it had to return to Brazil, as the Moroccan government received an alert from Greenpeace regarding the sanitary and environmental danger. The Navy’s order was for it to dock at the Port of Suape, in Pernambuco.
The Government of Pernambuco then notified the Federal Court to prevent the hull from docking in Suape due to environmental risks, health, and the port operation itself, as of the five commercial berths, two are designated for container movement, and the ghost ship would occupy two more due to its size, leaving only one berth for all other operations at the site, which would cause a congestion in port operations.
On the morning of last Saturday (03), the tugboat ALP Centre, which wandered for months towing the contaminated hull, was replaced by the ALP Guard and returned to Rio de Janeiro, having reportedly turned off the location system while passing through Alagoas. Both tugboats belong to the Dutch company Maritime Services & Trading (MSK). The company said that the ALP Centre continues heading to Rio de Janeiro and that it believes there was some difficulty in response capture along the coast.
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MSK further stated that the tugboat replacement occurred because there was no fuel for refueling at the Port of Suape. On the other hand, the Pernambuco port informed that it received no request for refueling and that it indeed has fuel at the dock. The hull remains about 30 kilometers from the Pernambuco coast (17 nautical miles) under monitoring by a Navy corvette.
Owner Of The Tugboats Is Considering Suing The Government Of Pernambuco For A Million-Dollar Compensation
The lawyer for MSK in Brazil, Zilan Costa e Silva, claims that they are evaluating the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the Government of Pernambuco to request US$ 2 million. The potential compensation would cover the expenses the company is incurring to keep the hull at sea. “While the ship remains awaiting the decision of the authorities, about 20 tons of fuel are being consumed,” says Costa e Silva.
Controversy Reaches Political Pages
In the Pernambuco Legislative Assembly, state deputy Waldemar Borges (PSB) reacted against the Turkish company SÖK Denizcilik Ticaret Limited, owner of the former Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier. In the justification for the vote of repudiation, the parliamentarian referred to the situation as a “attempted invasion” and stated that the company is “not welcome.” Check the full statement:
For those who still defend such absurdity, it is enough to state that, for the same reasons – whatever they are – that led Turkish and carioca authorities to prohibit its entry into their ports, we here in Pernambuco also do not want this ship in Suape.
“Our authorities have been firm in reacting against this attempted invasion. Alongside them, united and in solidarity in this repudiation, are the entire port community, environmentalists, fishermen, and several national and international entities that care about environmental issues, such as the renowned Greenpeace,” said the deputy in his justification.
“In other words, to cause damage to our environment and threaten the proper functioning of our port, you are not welcome here, SOK.”
“And those who defend your interests in Pernambuco’s land or seas certainly do not know our tradition of welcoming those who come here to add, but also of not accepting unwanted invaders. Pernambuco does not want them either. Go back to your lands.”
Source: Pernambuco Legislative Assembly
SÖK Denizcilik Ticaret Limited responded to Waldemar Borges’s comments, accusing him of xenophobic speech. The company’s lawyer, Zilan Costa e Silva, wrote a statement. Read it in full:
The Turkish companies MSK Maritime Services & Trading and SÖK Denizcilik Ticaret Limited, respectively the transporter and shipyard now owner of the former aircraft carrier Nae São Paulo, vehemently repudiate the request for the Vote of Protest from state deputy Waldemar Borges (PSB-PE) against the company.
In a xenophobic text with no technical knowledge, he describes the aircraft carrier as a “toxic waste deposit,” and ends his explanation with the phrase “go back to your lands.”
In his request, he also states that “to cause damage to our environment and threaten the proper functioning of our port, you are not welcome here, SOK.”
MSK Maritime Services & Trading and SÖK Denizcilik Ticaret Limited deeply regret the xenophobic comments made by the Pernambucan parliamentarian when presenting the request for the Vote of Protest against the Turkish company, which consequently affects the entire Turkish population.
According to the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, xenophobia is a crime, with punishment for the aggressor including a fine and imprisonment from one to three years.
Statement by lawyer Zilan Costa e Silva
Environmentalists Protest Against The Arrival Of The Aircraft Carrier That Became A Ghost Ship
Environmentalists from various institutions protested in front of the Navy’s Port Captaincy in Recife against the potential arrival of the ghost ship, fearing the environmental risks that the vessel may bring.
“It is well-known that it has a load of asbestos and was painted with a substance that may contain radioactivity. We need to be very sensible in assessing the potential danger this may pose to our environment,” said Alexandre Carvalho, president of the Institute of Research and Environmental Preservation of Pernambuco.
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