Turkey: Ecology groups call for Brazilian warship not to be sent for dismantling

Ecology groups in Turkey called upon the Brazilian government to prevent the warship Nae Sao Paulo from setting off the port of Rio de Janeiro on Friday to arrive in Turkey's western port of Aliaga to be dismantled.

Aliaga Ecology Platform and Aegean Ecology Platform said in a written statement that hazardous materials like asbestos, heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls were very likely to lead to pollution, creating irreversible health and ecology risks, in the case dismantling was carried out without taking certain health and security measures.

The groups said:

"The governments of Turkey and Brazil will bear equal liability for the possible outcomes. As ecology groups, we do not want the ship to be brought to Turkey. We ask the Brazilian government to take steps to prevent the ship from setting off."

The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change gave permission to a Sok Denizcilik on 30 May for the dismantling of Nae Sao Paulo in a shipyard in Aliaga.

Upon heavy criticism by ecology groups and by the mayor of Izmir, minister Murat Kurum said the ship contained only 9.6 tons of asbestos, not 900, and gave reassurance, saying that the dismantling process is subject to regulations.