Former Exxon Valdez Tanker Banned From Entering India for Scrapping

The massive tanker formerly known as the Exxon Valdez is currently being barred from entering India’s waters. The country’s Supreme Court is has an extreme fear of pollution from the ship that was responsible for one of the world’s worst oil spills over 20 years ago.

The infamous tanker now named the Oriental Nicety entered India’s marine territory sometime last week, en route to the shipbreaking yards of Gujarat. However, court officials refuse to let the vessel completely in until it has been decontaminated.

Environmentalists had petitioned the Supreme Court seeking information on whether the ship had been stripped of all toxic material in line with the United Nations' Basel treaty on hazardous waste management. According to AFP, the Basel Convention, which has been signed by India, governs international movements of hazardous waste and is designed to prevent dumping in the developing world.

The ship was recently bought by the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of an Indian shipbreaking firm and was to be dismantled at Alang, the hub of India's shipbreaking industry, according to BBC News. The owning company has said that they will abide with the Supreme Court order, but are studying the order and will appeal.

Photo (thumb): Exxon Valdez, 1989