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Africa North

Egypt says French ship can cross Suez Canal

2006-01-13

CAIRO - An official from Egyptâs Suez Canal Authority denied a French aircraft carrier heading to a scrap yard in India would be prevented from crossing the waterway, Egyptâs official news agency reported on Thursday.

The comment came after another official told Reuters the vessel would not be able to cross the canal because it was leaking toxic waste. âAn official source at the Suez Canal Authority denied reports that Egypt had not allowed a French aircraft carrier to cross the Suez Canal today on its way to India,â the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.

The report made no mention of toxic waste. The French Defence Ministry said there was no leak coming from the ship.

The decommissioned Clemenceau set sail from France in December for the massive Alang ship-breaking yard in Gujarat. Earlier this month, the French Defence Ministry said the Clemenceau was still in the Mediterranean and would take two months to reach India.

MENA quoted the official as saying Egypt had not prevented the crossing but required ships bearing scrap to fulfill internationally agreed conditions to safeguard the environment. The official who previously said the ship would not be allowed to cross the Suez Canal had said the decision was taken after Egyptâs environmental agency said the vessel could harm the canalâs environment and the Egyptian coastline.

Greenpeace has been behind this: I'm waiting for a final airstrike by the Clemenceau on a Greenpeace trawler.

Environmental group Greenpeace has also urged Paris and New Delhi not to allow the Clemenceau to reach the scrap yard without first being 98 percent decontaminated in France.

Posted by:Steve White

#8 Two month transit? Faster than the De Gaulle, I bet.

Posted by: Glenmore 2006-01-13 18:30

#7 Does the Clemenceau have sea cocks? Just wondering- it wouldn't be beyond Greenpeace to just send her to the bottom.

Posted by: Grunter 2006-01-13 11:06

#6 Update:

New Delhi, 12 January, 2006: Greenpeace activists intercepted and boarded the French aircraft carrier, the Clemenceau, on Thursday raising the stakes in the international row over the decommissioning of the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau, which has been sent to India for decommissioning despite widespread outrage at the high levels of asbestos and other hazardous materials it contains.
At 12.00 hrs this morning, two activists boarded the carrier 50 nautical miles from the coast of Egypt in international waters. They are currently on the shipâs mast with banners declaring âASBESTOS CARRIER: STAY OUT OF INDIAâ.

2 months to India, kids. On an asbestos laden ghost ship.
Enjoy the cruise...

Posted by: tu3031 2006-01-13 08:27

#5 harm the canalâs environment
:>

Posted by: Crease Slolung3988 2006-01-13 07:55

#4 All hail Greenpeace !
They are saving the world from the Clemenceau which has a billion tons of asbestos on board.
They are saving the Indian slave workers of Alang scrapyard, caught from their idealic villages by evil white men with nets and forced to break ships.
After breaking ships for decades, these dumb Indians still don't know how to handle asbestos...

Posted by: john 2006-01-13 06:34

#3 It's in tow. No operable power plant for propulsion.

Posted by: Sock Puppet OÂ´ Doom 2006-01-13 02:21

#2 A two-mont transit would the vessel isn't under its own power, though I don't know for sure.

Posted by: Rory B. Bellows 2006-01-13 00:49

#1 Earlier this month, the French Defence Ministry said the Clemenceau was still in the Mediterranean and would take two months to reach India.

Two months! Hell, Clipper Ships would do 90 days around Africa. And the carrier is taking a shortcut through the Suez canal.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-01-13 00:26

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