The whole Clemenceau affair for this…?
In 2013, when the former Atlantic Star, renamed Antic, leaves Marseille for demolition at Alang without asbestos removal, silence reigns.
In 2006, when the former Clemenceau, renamed hull Q790, went to Alang for demolition after a partial asbestos removal in France, a politically correct, unanimous roar rang out.
The Atlantic Star is a 240m-long ship built in 1984 in the shipyards of La Seyne-sur-Mer in France, an asbestos stronghold. It was abandoned in Marseille in 2010. The Atlantic Star belonged to the Spanish subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL).
The demolition of vessels is being weighed down by the global crisis
The 14th Information bulletin on ship demolition is available. It covers the period of September 22nd to December 31st during which a rush of old hulls heading towards Asian ship-breaking yards is noted. 54% of these vessels belonged to European ship-owners or belonged to members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). In this trend the French ship-owner CGM-CMA sent to be demolished the I’Ursula Delmas ex-Sherbro, the Véronique Delmas and the CMA-CGM Potomac. 65% of the vessels left for demolition during the last trimester of 2008 had previously been detained in harbours worldwide for deficiencies; this confirms deterioration in the maintenance and in the general condition of vessels. They all left without pre cleaning.