Maersk to return suspected toxic waste to Europe
Shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S has agreed to return an estimated 816 metric tonnes of suspected hazardous waste to Albania instead of delivering it to Thailand, following pressure from environmental groups.
The decision comes after the Basel Action Network (BAN) raised the alarm about two Maersk-chartered ships carrying what is believed to be toxic steel furnace dust collected from pollution control filters. As previously reported, BAN had warned of the illegal export of this waste from Europe to Asia, urging authorities to intercept the vessels.
Maersk spokesperson Summer Shi confirmed that 100 containers of the suspected hazardous material will be returned to their country of origin. The move has been welcomed by environmental justice organisations, including BAN and Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH).
Jim Puckett, BAN Executive Director, praised the decision but said that more action is needed: "We applaud Maersk's decision to return the suspected hazardous cargo. But the job is not done.
"Earlier this year Maersk delivered a similar load of waste to China which must also come back. Further, the company needs to put measures in place to prevent their ships from moving hazardous waste, electronic waste, and plastic wastes to developing countries in the future."
Suspected toxic waste shipment raises alarm
The waste in question was transported in July from Albania to Trieste, Italy, where it was loaded onto two Maersk ships, the MAERSK CAMPTON and MAERSK CANDOR. Both ships had raised suspicions by deactivating their AIS GPS transponders for unusually long periods during their journey towards Southeast Asia.
According to BAN, the lead ship, CAMPTON, is believed to have unloaded its 40 containers of suspected hazardous waste on 18 August in Singapore. These containers are now reportedly being transferred to an MSC vessel, the MARIA SAVERIA, scheduled to sail to Italy on 21 August before being sent on to Durres, Albania.
The NGO also states that a second ship, MAERSK CANDOR, has been "dark" since 9 August and is due in Singapore on 24 August.
Environmental groups are calling on Singaporean authorities to detain and test the containers from both ships before allowing their return to Albania. They are also urging Maersk and MSC to coordinate with Singaporean authorities on sampling and testing the waste, and to provide written assurances of the direct return of the containers to Albania.
Penchom Saetang of EARTH expressed gratitude for Maersk's decision: "We are very appreciative that Maersk has agreed to take these wastes back to Albania. Asia is far too often being victimised by global shipments of hazardous wastes, e-wastes and plastic wastes. We hope Maersk will work to take responsibility for doing their part in enforcing the Basel Convention."
The Basel Convention, which governs the international trade of hazardous and other wastes, prohibits the transport of such materials without approval from both exporting and importing countries, as well as transit states. In this case, neither Albania, the transit countries, nor Thailand were informed about the shipments, potentially exposing Maersk to liability for criminal trafficking in waste.
While this decision marks a significant victory for environmental groups, they are now calling on Maersk to address a similar situation in China. BAN has requested that Maersk return 115 containers of comparable waste that have been sitting in the Port of Nansha, Guangzhou City, since April 2024. These containers were blocked by Fengcheng customs after tests revealed high levels of lead and other contaminants.
