Two British flagged container ships are implicated in a toxic waste controversy. The vessels, named by media as the Maersk Campton and the Maersk Candor, are reportedly en route to Thailand, via Singapore. According to environmentalists, both ships have a significant number of containers carrying illegal toxic waste.
Activists have alerted Thai authorities to a potential attempted landing of toxic waste. The alarm was raised as the vessels were approaching a scheduled call at Singapore. According to global media sources, both vessels have been informed that they will not be allowed to discharge their cargo. It’s likely that the vessels also have legitimate cargo on board.
Highly poisonous lead and cadmium
The alarm was raised by the independent environmental watchdog, Basel Action Network. The US-based not-for-profit group tracks the trade in toxic waste. According to media in Thailand, including the Bangkok Post, the group warned the Thai authorities last week that the illicit cargo was on its way to Laem Chabang Port in Thailand. Basel Action Network has identified the cargo in question as electric arc furnace dust.
EAFD, as it is commonly known, is a classified substance, listed as environmentally hazardous waste. The dust is typically laced with oxides of heavy metals, including highly poisonous lead and cadmium. Both ships are understood to have called at Italian and Albanian ports prior to setting sail for Asia. However, the containers conveying the toxic EAFD are understood to have originated in Albania, where the recycling of steel is the most likely source of the dust.
AIS switched off for security
The Mersey Campton is due to dock in Singapore this week. The Candor is still at sea. Maersk has issued a statement, declaiming any knowledge of the cargo, which was not registered as hazardous, in contravention of international regulations. The English language Albanian Daily News carried a statement from a Maersk spokeswoman. “Due to the speculation about the content of these containers, Maersk will hand over the containers to the shipping line which has booked and is responsible for the containers in question,” said Summer Shi, implying that they will be returned to their port of origin.
It’s understood that the Campton has 40 questionable containers on board. The Candor, which is still at sea, has a further 60 containers in its manifest. Both ships are in the Ultra Large (ULCV) class, each with a capacity in excess of 14500 TEU. The twin vessels entered service in 2022. Basel Action Network had alleged that the Maersk Campton had switched off its Automatic Identification System, and failed to make a port call in South Africa, which the watchdog claims is highly suspicious. However, the company said silent running was due to security concerns in the region. The vessel re-established contact on approach to Singapore. Between the two ships, BAN says the total EAFD on board is over 800 tonnes. Waste management is a growing sector, with many countries, including the UK, choosing to handle consignments domestically.