Balisage

Grande America, Press Release n°9

Like the Grande America, which is polluting the seabed in the Bay of Biscay and like the Grande Nigeria, which is heading towards West Africa after a dozen so-called “minor” deficiencies have been identified on board by the Vessel Safety Center of Le Havre, a new specimen of the Grimaldi Lines fleet is approaching the French coast.

Grande America, press release n°8

Following Robin des Bois’ letter to the Secretary-General for the Sea requesting communication of the list of hazardous and non-hazardous materials loaded on the Grande America, a meeting was held today in Brest at the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture. Below is the list provided by the authorities, which includes more than 1,050 tons of hazardous materials.

The Grande America, information note
March 19th 2019 – 10:25

Today at 9:45 am, at the plenary meeting of the HCTISN (High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety), the representative of Robin des Bois asked the ASN (Nuclear Safety Authority), the IRSN (French Institute of Radiological Protection and Reactor Safety) and other stakeholders to lift doubts about the possible presence of sealed radioactive sources for industrial use on board the Grande America ship, which caught fire and capsized on March 12th 2019.

Only in French.

The Grande America, press release n°6

Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) requests that the ships of Grimaldi Lines (owner of the Grande America) currently calling or expected to call in the port of Le Havre be urgently subjected to detailed inspections, particularly regarding fire-fighting systems, the on-board distribution of hazardous materials and the safety of the hundreds of used vehicles awaiting loading. Given the circumstances, a careful examination of on-board vehicles and containers should be carried out if necessary by OCLAESP (Central Office of the fight against environmental and public health violations).

The Grande America, press release n°5.

As an NGO that has been keeping up with the kinetics of high or low intensity oil spills for 30 years, Robin des Bois advises people of good will to not engage in the collection of oil, algae or contaminated solid waste when they reach the shore.

The Grande America, press release n°4.

Inconsistencies. At his press conference on March 13^th 2019, the Atlantic Maritime Prefect stated that, according to the list of hazardous materials communicated to his services by Grimaldi Lines, there were 100 tonnes of hydrochloric acid and 70 tonnes of sulphuric acid [Class 8, corrosive substances] on board.

Grande America, press release n°3

List and summary description of all the Grande America’s deficiencies as identified by the Port State inspectors since 2010 (pdf). In particular, recurring deficiencies concerning the fire-fighting plans or equipments and non-compliances with the MARPOL Convention for the prevention of pollution at sea should be noted.

The Grande America, practically garbage herself, was carrying waste and was known to empty her garbage cans into the sea.

The French president is in Nairobi for the One Planet Summit. Robin des Bois’ director asked him to support the proposal of Kenya and the African Elephant Coalition countries in favour of CITES Appendix I banning all international trade in ivory. The next CITES plenary session will take place in Sri Lanka from 23 May to 3 June 2019.

Grande America, press release n°2

Following the sinking of the Grande America, Robin des Bois hopes that the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture will be provided by the ship-owner Grimaldi with the complete list of cargoes and hazardous material loaded on board the ship. In order to assess the level of danger that is to arise as waste gradually escapes from the wreck, it is important to have accurate information. It is likely that, within a few days, oil and floating waste will disperse at sea and arrive on the French coastline, particularly in southern Brittany, the Pays de la Loire, and Aquitaine. Therefore, it would be reasonable to pre-position pollution response means (Polmar).