Plut Ship Leaves Atlantic

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> PLUTONIUM WASTE TRANSPORT LEAVES ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER FIERCE


                    ************************
                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
                    ************************
 
>> PLUTONIUM WASTE TRANSPORT LEAVES ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER FIERCE
CONFRONTATION
 
Off the Chilean Coast, 22nd March 1995 (GP) Following 28 days of
controversy and political condemnation, the British-flagged
plutonium waste ship the Pacific Pintail, begins the next chapter
in it's dangerous voyage from France to Japan by entering the
Pacific Ocean. [1] In a dramatic confrontation, the vessel was
first forced from Chilean waters by a navy warship and then
defied the Chilean order to remain outside it's economic
exclusion zone (EEZ) waters. 
 
"After ignoring the democratic rights of South American nations,
the French, Japanese and British authorities are now threatening
nations in the Pacific region with this deadly ship" said Damon
Moglen of Greenpeace.  "Those responsible for this shipment
should cease from acting with arrogant disregard for the will of
the International community and end these dangerous transports." 
 
Since it's departure from the French port of Cherbourg on
February 23rd, the Pintail has sailed directly into outraged
condemnation and official censor by en route nations.  
 
Protest in the Caribbean and Central America deterred the
transport from taking it's preferred route thorough the Caribbean
Sea and the Panama Canal.   Instead, the Pintail has sailed along
the coast of South America despite protest from the potentially
affected coastal nations of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. 
 
Most recently, the ship was forced to radically change it's
course by the Chilean navy when it ignored the governmental ban
from waters within the Chilean 200 mile EEZ.    In a series of
radio contacts with the ship the Chilean Navy was compelled to
threaten the Pintail with force if it did not comply with
national and international legislation. [2]
 
After this confrontation, the Pacific Pintail changed its course
southwards into the waters surrounding the Antarctic Continent
though continuing to remain in Chilean waters.  Below a latitude
of 60 degrees South lies what is known as the Antarctic Treaty
Area (ATA), an area which has been established by the
international community as an environmentally protected region.  
This region has been an internationally recognized nuclear-free
zone since 1959 under the auspices of the Antarctic Treaty.  
France, Britain and Japan are all signatories to the Treaty, but
are willing to threaten the fragile and unique environment of
Antarctica with dangerous nuclear transports.
 
"British, French and Japanese authorities have claimed the right
to "innocent passage" in the face of en route state
condemnation". said Moglen.   "There is nothing innocent about a
secret nuclear waste transport forcing its way through
jurisdictional waters from which it has been prohibited."
 
 
Ends
    
For More Information Please Contact:
 
Damon Moglen, Greenpeace in Argentina ++54 1 962 0404
Karen Richardson, Greenpeace UK ++44 71 354 5100
Bas Bruyne On Board the MV Solo 871 130 1166
Blair Palese Greenpeace Communications ++44 71 833 0600
 
 
NOTES TO EDITORS:
 
[1] The Greenpeace vessel MV Solo continues to track the Pacific
Pintail.  At 0800 GMT the Pintail was in position latitude 55
degrees and 56 minutes South and Longitude 074 degrees and 50
minutes West, on a course of 316 degrees with a speed of 12
knots.
 
[2] The radio communication between the Chilean Navy is available
in written or recorded format from Greenpeace Communications.    
 
Media and others interested in tracking the shipment's route
daily should access Greenpeace World Wide Web site at:
HTTP://WWW.greenpeace.org/