Two UK cruise ships, that operated from Thurrock docks, have been scrapped on an Indian seaside regardless of assurances they’d proceed to be operated.
Ships on the finish of their lives are thought-about hazardous waste and it’s unlawful to ship them to creating nations from the UK.
The Marco Polo and the Magellan, which operated out of Tilbury Docks, have been offered at public sale in November after their house owners Cruise and Maritime Voyages went into administration.
However months after being offered at public sale to consumers exterior the UK they have been then offered on as scrap for double the value.
As they have been set for use for additional buying and selling once they left UK waters, their arrival in India doesn’t break UK regulation.
An investigation by the BBC’s File on 4 programme discovered at the least 13 different ships, principally cargo ships, linked to the UK had arrived on the scrapping seashores of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for the reason that begin of 2020.
The Marco Polo was constructed within the Sixties and was one of many world’s final surviving ocean cruise liners. It was scheduled to take UK passengers to the Amazon and Norway this 12 months, however its remaining voyage was to Alang in India.
The ship-breaking yards of Alang dominate a stretch of muddy seaside simply up the coast from Mumbai in north-west India, known as the world’s largest ship graveyard.
The ship was purchased at public sale for round £2 million by offshore firm Highseas Ltd. After the sale, it was launched from UK waters on the situation it could be used for “additional buying and selling”.
HighSeas Ltd stated the cruise ship can be used as a floating lodge in Dubai.
However two months after taking possession of the Marco Polo, it was offered as scrap for round £4m.
HighSeas Ltd director Rishi Arggawal stated it was all the time their intention the Marco Polo can be offered to new house owners “however regrettably, the meant consumers in Dubai refused to take supply”.
Mr Arggawal stated they tried to seek out new work for the Marco Polo as a cruise ship or a lodge with out success, earlier than promoting to “Indian pursuits”.
It’s a related story for the Magellan, which was meant for use as a floating lodge in Liverpool for the 2021 Grand Nationwide.
It was purchased on the public sale by a Greek ship proprietor. Brokers say it was offered on for scrap after no new purchaser was discovered.
The cruise ship trade does ship outdated ships to be scrapped safely at EU-approved yards, however when offered at public sale, which frequently occurs when an organization goes into administration.