Ive sent emails to the 3 authorities in India, i havn't yet to the media agencies at bit late in Melbourne at the moment, if we do pursuade the Indian authorities to not let Blue Lady in their waters what would happen next?
Happy Birthday SS FRANCE hopr you'r around for another 46 years.

According to Lloyd's, Indian Supreme Court has allowed Norway into Indian waters. They have refered the matter of "toxins" to an expert panel appointed by it. They will not pass any orders without a report from this panel.

OK, who's the panel? Two guys that flip a coin and decide or is it a legitimate deal?

Perhaps the Indian government (and the media) need some more direct reminders of the legacy of Bophal - and what greed of the current wonrs of the "Blue Lady" want them to ignore:

A couple of things I can't get my head round. So the ship has no working engines, right? There are two tugs but possibly not as powerful as the one from China? How do they beach it at Alang?

Also the Tug Barge Web Site.

What's that all about?

"Going To Dubai but if YOU want it, you can buy it". Almost sounds as though the guys at Dubailand have bought it, but the "new owners" are trying to resell on route for a higher price.

Also I'm very suspicious of those strange posts from people with broken English. Call me a snob but.....

Very interesting that tug-barge has changed their ad.....is it the truth (Dubai) or is it to calm the current fears of our beloved ship going to the scrapyard? There's simply too much information / rumors flying around right now.

Have a friend going out to Dubai next week to meet someone in the financial world. Will get friend to sniff around a bit.

Hi Peterwalker45....

In response to your question about beaching a ship at Alang (heaven forbid the Blue Lady). The flatts at Alang go out over a quarter of a mile. They wait until the highest tide....beach the ship as far in as possible (under it's own steam, or buy positioning it with tug/tender)....then begin a "winching" process. After attaching chain/cable, etc...they use powerful winches to bring the ship closer and closer to the beach at each successive high tide. This process may take weeks...but along the way, the dismantling process begins from day one. Time is money at Alang.

I wish the folks at Alang good luck with the beaching process. A ship that can't get up to any type of decent speed and a draft, even under "light" condiitons, that will be 30+ feet is going to go aground WELL off of the beach. That's no duckwalk. Anyway, they want the Norway? Well they're certainly going to have to work for that one because she is not going out without one HELL of a fight!

AMEN TO THAT, CAPT MATT!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Remarc:
According to Lloyd's, Indian Supreme Court has allowed Norway into Indian waters. They have refered the matter of "toxins" to an expert panel appointed by it. They will not pass any orders without a report from this panel.

Apologies for my lack of understanding of the structure of the legalities here, but exactly how should one interpret the above?

Does it mean the Indian Supreme Court is simply "blowing smoke," (e.g. engaging in sideline bureaucratic activity, while simultaneously doing nothing to actually block the grounding of the ship at Alang)...

...or....

...does it indicate the court is moving towards formally stating it will decide on the fate of the ship (e.g, "you can bring the ship into our waters, but don't even think about beaching it anywhere until we render an order saying yay or nay")?

I fear the fomer, but just want to be sure.

Opinions welcome!!!

I think your "one or the other" assessment of the Indian court situation is right on target, mikeythemars. However, the members of this court are intelligent enough to understand that they set a PRECEDENT with the CLEMENCEAU. If they wish to be looked upon with any sort of respect by the court systems of the First World, they are going to have to respond in a way that is legitimate and consistent.

That does NOT mean that they will!

quote:

Originally posted by TinctiveCity:
I think your "one or the other" assessment of the Indian court situation is right on target, mikeythemars. However, the members of this court are intelligent enough to understand that they set a PRECEDENT with the CLEMENCEAU. If they wish to be looked upon with any sort of respect by the court systems of the First World, they are going to have to respond in a way that is legitimate and consistent.

That does NOT mean that they will!

Well, as we speak, the story continues to evolve.

Just an hour ago, the BBC reported a different (and MUCH more positive) version of what is happening with the Indian Supreme Court and "our" ship. Link to story is below , but to briefly summarize the main points:

- The Court has banned the ship from even entering Indian waters until the "expert panel" delivers their report on the level and nature of contamination in/on the "Blue Lady."

- Said report has to be submitted by July 8.

- Court has said after report is submitted, it will render make a final ruling (presumably, that means a decision on whether the ship can be brought to India for scrapping).

BBC: India orders "toxic ship" probe

ADD THESE TO YOUR LIST. WE NEED TO GET ON THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS. USE THESE ADDRESSES FOR AL JAZEERA, THE P.R. DEPARTMENT OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES IN LONDON, US AND HK, AND THE TIMES OF INDIA.

ALSO USE LINKS FROM MY PREV POST(S) TO REMIND THE PRESS ABOUT BHOPAL 2.0! AND ALWAYS CC: THE INDIAN JUDICIARY.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

press.int@aljazeera.net

toieditorial@timesgroup.com

joanna.manning-cooper@ft.com

jolie.hunt@ft.com

cindy.chupak@ft.com

katy.hemmings@ft.com

quote:

Originally posted by TinctiveCity:
However, the members of this court are intelligent enough to understand that they set a PRECEDENT with the CLEMENCEAU. If they wish to be looked upon with any sort of respect by the court systems of the First World, they are going to have to respond in a way that is legitimate and consistent.

AAah, but don't forget, the Indian authorities say they have Magically acquired the ability to handle "500,000 tonnes of toxic materials" in a safe environment. Like .... since the CLEM incident!!! You know, it's been almost 3 MONTHS, they've been working hard setting up an ISO-9000 certified facility.

HAHAHAHAHAHA I'm JOKING !!!!!

You are entertaining, Watson Island, that I'll give you! However, we need to stay positive and hopeful until this whole affair is set in stone. God, I'm starting to sound like some condescending Sunday School teacher! LOL!

Just a thought.....if the e-mails sent to the press do get responded to, is anything going to change without government intervention (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, etc.) ?

I have found that the general public reads or hears these stories then says "Oh well, what a shame" then they just get on with their lives. A majority of people seem to forget as fast as they learn. An example of this is the seal hunt that took place here in Canada (sorry). It was big in the news, but it still went on and no other government made coment about it.

Should our governments not be e-mailed?

ANYONE AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE CONTACTED...newpapers, television stations, governments, shipping industry leaders, environmentalists, preservationists. Our success will be based on a numbers game...make enough noise in ALL directions and the odds are that someone will respond. That is why we truly need everyone on this site to contact as many of these entities as possible.

I think it would be prudent to stop out efforts at this time in regards to the news medias.

The reason is, we raise up a storm now and come July 8 it's all forgotten. It's not just about applying pressure, it's about applying pressure in the right place at the right time.

When you're in a war (and we are) you don't fire your weapon when no one is in front of you, you do it when the enemy is in your sights.

Right now , she's under tow and she's got a repreieve till July 8. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN MET: the same response from the Indian Supreme Court as was given to CLEMENCEAU - a TEMPORARY ban pending an investigation. That buys us time.

We should now use the time to organize our campaing...set up a website, surf blogs and post support messages. We have to gather data on Alang's "magical new waste disposal" abilities and expose them as fraud to the public. And we have to come up with a plan-b mobilization plan if the Supreme Court rules against her and she is beached. IN SHORT - NOW THAT OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN MET, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE NEED IDEAS.

THEN just before the supreme court is ready to rule...we take aim and hit em with everything we've got.

ALEX - YOU ARE RIGHT ON. IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN VOICE OUR OPINONS DIRECTLY TO THE INDIAN CONSULATE. SWAMP THEM WITH EMAIL, FAXES AND PHONE INQUIRIES TO:

http://www.indiacgny.org

MS. NEELAM DEO
CONSUL GENERAL
Tel: 212-774 0600 - Fax (212)988-6423

MR. A.R. GHANASHYAM
DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL & CONSUL (COMMERCE)
Tel: (212)774 0600 - Fax (212)734 4980

DR. NEENA MALHOTRA
CONSUL (PRESS, CULTURE, INFORMATION & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS)
Tel: (212)774 0615

MR. R.S. ARORA
CONSUL
Tel: (212)774 0616

MR. VINOD BHANDARI
CONSUL ( POLITICAL)
Tel: (212)774 0604 - Fax: (212)734 4980

HERE IS LINK TO ALL REGIONAL INDIAN CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES:

http://www.immihelp.com/directory/indianconsulatesusa.html