Estonia holds tanker - poisonous substance found in vessel

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Estonian police impounded the tanker vessel Probo Koala At Paldiski harbour on the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday. According to the Estonian state prosecutor’s office, a criminal investigation has been launched after traces of a chemical were found on board, which had caused a deadly toxic leak in Ivory Coast in August.
      Officials would not give details on what substances actually were found.
      The Probo Koala is suspected of having left a load of toxic waste for disposal in Ivory Coast in mid-August. The poison was dumped near a residential area of the capital Abidjan. At least eight deaths were blamed on the poisoning, and tens of thousands sought hospital treatment for related symptoms.
     
Estonian Environment Minister Villu Reilijan received an official fax message from Ahizi Aka Daniel, the Environment and Forest Minister of Ivory Coast, asking Estonia to do everything possible to stop the ship.
      The message invoked the Basel treaty on international transport and handling of hazardous wastes.
      The European Commissioner for the Environment, Stavros Dimas indicated that he might arrive in Estonia today, Thursday, to look into the matter.
      A strike force of 20 activists of the environmental organisation Greenpeace, which had blockaded the ship in the harbour with the help of an icebreaker and two rubber boats, continued to keep watch over the tanker on Wednesday.
      The state prosecutor’s office says that new samples will be taken from the Probo Koala. The ship will be thoroughly inspected, and the crew will be interrogated. The Estonian Ministry of the Environment says that the ship will remain in Estonia until all investigations are complete.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Greenpeace blockades toxic tanker in Estonian harbour near Finland (27.9.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat