3:30 p.m
Yesterday, 315 km off the Brazilian coast, the Dutch tug ALP Guard was replaced by the Brazilian Navy deep sea-going tug Purus. The Brazilian Navy staff stated in its press release that considering the state of deterioration of the hull of the aircraft carrier NAeL Sao Paulo, ex-Foch, it would not allow her return to a port or to Brazilian territorial waters. Robin des Bois believes that a scuttling operation is being prepared. For the NGO, this is the worst solution. It has been feared since the ex-Foch was banned from Türkiye, from the military port of Rio de Janeiro and from the civilian port of Suape in the State of Pernambuco. The Brazilian Navy is about to open a new underwater dumpsite.
In June 2020 already, it got cheaply rid of the ore carrier Stellar Banner by scuttling her 150 km off the port of Ponta da Madeira in the State of Maranhao.
To be continued.
[1]Scuttling of the Stellar Banner in June 2020
The ex-Foch, twin of the Clemenceau, on her way to the scrapyard in Türkiye [2], August 25, 2022
What is the future for the Sao Paulo, ex-Foch? [3], September 2, 2022
The aircraft carrier Sao Paulo is banned in Brazil!, [4] October 7, 2022
The ex-aircraft carrier Foch on her way towards the unknown, [5] January 20, 2023
Scuttling of the Sao Paulo : pollution has a future, [6] February 4, 2023
See also Fuego!, September 6, 2018 about the scuttling of the former corvette Alfonso Ceirquer off Madeira, Portugal [7] (with video)