Action against Ocean Incinerator Vulcanus II in Antwerp

Greenpeace activists in inflatable boat try to prevent Vulcanus II from mooring for loading chemical waste at the Antwerp harbour. They hold a banner reading "Ban the burn".

In original language:

Toxicactie tegen Verbrandingsschip Vulcanus II in Antwerpen

Greenpeace actievoerders in een rubberboot proberen tegen te houden dat Vulcanus II aanmeert om afval te gaan laden in de haven van Antwerpen. Ze houden een spandoek vast met de tekst "Ban the burn".

Unique identifier: GP01NX6

Type: Image

Shoot date: 14/09/1986

Locations: Antwerp, Belgium, Europe, West Europe

Credit line: © Greenpeace / H. Westerling

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

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Action against Ocean Incinerator Vulcanus II in Antwerp

Four Greenpeace activists dive into the water at the Antwerp harbour and together with two Greenpeace inflatables they try to prevent Vulcanus II from mooring for loading chemical waste. The Vulcanus crew sprays with power hoses to stop the activists. Under the authority of the Dutch company Ocean Combustion Service (OCS), the ocean incinerator ship Vulcanus II leaves every three weeks the Antwerp harbour loaded with 3000 tonnes of chemical waste. This waste comes from the chemical industry and contains of toxic and often carcinogenic chemical compounds, like pvc's. Eighty miles offshore of Den Helder the waste is incinerated in incinerators with a temperture of at least 1100 degrees Celsius. According to OCS 99.9% of the chemical waste is burned, this is however never proven and if so 0,01% of 3000 tonnes is still 300 kilos of toxics that ends up in the environment. Because of an increase of transports by land and sea and the storage in a densely populated area like the Antwerp harbour, the liability for severe accidents becomes bigger. A disaster with such toxics will be disastrous and cause unrestorable damage for humankind and the environment. That's why Greenpeace wants a ban on the incineration of chemical waste at sea.

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