The government of Brazil has announced that it will sink an old aircraft carrier in the Atlantic that has been sailing aimlessly for five months and so on no port accepts toxic materials wearing on the helmet.
The “Sao Paulo”, which formerly served the French Navy under the name of “Foch”, will be sunk in Brazilian territorial waters, about 350 kilometers from the coast, in a point of the Atlantic with a depth of 5,000 metersaway from environmental protection zones.
The Brazilian Navy said in a statement it had no alternative to the carrier torpedobecause it is “inevitable” that it sinks spontaneously since the hull is damaged and has buoyancy problems.
Furthermore, the Navy explained that the company responsible for the ship has not taken the necessary measures to obtain authorization to tow it to port, with the aim of repairing the damage. severe damage threatening her ability to stay afloat.
The communiqué was released a day after the Prosecution had asked the Justice to prevent the sinking of the ship, due to the risks they pose to the environment and public health the 10 tons of asbestos present in the hull.
The ex-French warship’s journey began in August when she was sold to a Turkish shipbreaking shipyard for $2 million.
But it never arrived at its destination because the Turkish authorities barred it from entering, so it had to make a U-turn just before reaching the Strait of Gibraltar.
Since then the Sao Paulo, second and last aircraft carrier of the Brazilian Navy fleet, wanders across the Atlantic, facing the refusal of portsalso Brazilians, to receive it.
Built in France in 1963, the aircraft carrier It is 266 meters long, with the capacity to accommodate 1,300 crew members. and carry 30 fighter-bombers.
The vessel served France under the name “Foch” for 37 years, during which time It was used in the Lebanese Civil War, the Gulf War and other conflicts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The Brazilian Navy bought her in 2001 for $12 million, but under the Brazilian flag, the aircraft carrier has spent more time in port than at sea.
Due to various technical problems and some accidents, including a fire with fatalities, it has covered only 85,334 kilometers during 206 days of operation in fifteen years.
With information from EFE
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.