Dubious asbestos & PCBs laden ship under scanner

Note: US Toxic Ship SS Independence (aka SS Oceanic) owned by Star Cruise, Blue Lady owner left from San Francisco toward Singapore in breach of US and international laws. The violations occurred on 8th February, 2008. SS Independence contains large quantities of hazardous materials such as toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lung-damaging asbestos, the export and import of which are prohibited under the laws of the United States and Singapore.

After looking into the reportedly-toxic ship formerly known as the S.S. Independence coming into Guam,a US territory 3700 miles southwest of Hawaii, US. Coast Guard Lieutenant Marcus Hirschberg says, it will be a few weeks before the ship, since renamed "The Oceanic", is expected to approach our island. Hirschberg says at this point it does not look like the vessel will be coming into Apra Harbor.

The vessel towing The Oceanic, the Pacific Hickory may come in for refueling. In that case, another tugboat would hold onto the oceanic 12 miles offshore. The lieutenant also told KUAM News, "The reason attention is being drawn to The Oceanic is not that it poses a risk to health and safety. Rather, the USEPA has identified a possible export violation. If there are PCBs on board due to the ship's age, then there are restrictions on export to foreign countries."

Ronna Sweeney, 27 February, 2008