“A three-member team from the Central government has arrived here and are on their way to inspect Platinum-II,” the officials told PTI here.

“The team includes a senior officer each from the Ministry of Environment, Steel and S. A. Hussain from the AERB,” they said, adding officials of Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) are also accompanying the team.

According to sources, Platinum-II is anchored near Gopnath some 40 nautical miles from the Alang coast.

Jairam Ramesh orders inquiry

The Central team is here as part of the inquiry ordered by the Union Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, last week after Indian Platform on Shipbreaking (IPOS) alleged that Platinum-II (previously known as SS Independence and SS Oceanic) was loaded with toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated material, asbestos as part of its construction along with radioactive substances.

When asked if there was any damage to ship Platinum-II while anchoring, the GMB officials said that they did not have any information in this regard.

“Since this is an old ship (Platinum-II) there could be some damaged parts. Also there could have been a dent or cracks after it brushed into one of the tugs a week ago when it arrived near Alang,” GMB vice chairman and CEO, Atanu Chakraborty, told PTI.

“But as of now the ship is afloat and is supported by two tugs. If there was any damage in the ships or cracks from which water was entering in, we would have known from the tugs,” Mr. Chakraborty said.

But we have not received any such call for the tugs (which are boats that manoeuvres vessels by pushing or towing them), he said.

Clear picture after inspection

Mr. Chakraborty said the picture would be clear once the Central team comes back from the inspection.

“We will have to wait till they come back to get the actual picture,” Mr. Chakraborty said.

Meanwhile, the Port officer at Alang said that they were trying to contact the crew of Platinum-II through radio but have not received any reply yet.

Earlier, Mr. Chakraborty had said that only after clearance from the GPCB for toxic and hazardous substance, and from the AERB for radioactive material, a further decision on the ship would be taken.

IPOS had alleged that Platinum-II had breached security and entered Indian waters illegally.

It further claimed that the Platinum-II is loaded with “an estimated 210 tonnes of toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated material and an estimated 250 tons of asbestos as part of its construction.”

According to the IPOS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had fined the owners of Platinum-II (then known as SS Oceanic), Global Shipping LLC and Global Marketing Systems for alleged illegal distribution and export of a PCB-containing ship in January 2009.

The companies were made to pay a total of $518,500 to resolve the two Toxic Substances Control Act violations. PCB is a persistent toxic pollutant used in the paints, insulation and gasketry in older ships.