French ship contains twice as much asbestos: leaked report

The French warship Le Clemenceau, due for dismantling at a Gujarat shipyard, contains almost twice as much asbestos as the French government had previously suggested, a media report said on Monday, quoting a leaked note.

Admiral Alain Oudot, the chief of staff of the French navy, had said last week that the vessel carried 45 tonnes of asbestos, banned in France [ Images ] since 1997.

However, now a leaked note suggests that it actually put the figure at 75 tonnes, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The imminent arrival of Clemenceau had provoked protests in India [ Images ], with environmental groups warning that it will pollute waters and pose a health hazard to workers at the Alang shipbreaking yard in Gujarat.

The Supreme Court of India had barred the vessel from entering Indian waters until it had reached a decision whether to allow its dismantling in the country.

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