GREENPEACE OCCUPIES TOXIC SHIP PAINT COMPANY AND RETURNS ITS POLLUTED MUD FROM WORLD HARBOURS

4 October 2001

Amsterdam: Greenpeace activists occupied the production plant of one of the world's largest toxic ship paint manufacturers, 'Atofina', in the Netherlands this morning. The activists delivered nine barrels of contaminated mud to the French owned company, dredged from many of the world's polluted harbours (1). The environmental organisation is calling on 'Atofina' to stop manufacturing ship paint that contains toxic TBT (tributyltin) because it is severely damaging the marine environment.

Seven Greenpeace activists were arrested after chaining themselves to the main entrance of the company and others blocked the loading facility which is used to put the TBT paint into containers. Two climbers scaled the building and are occupying the roof with a banner accusing 'Atofina' of being a 'Marine Polluter'.

'Atofina' produces toxic TBT as well as manufacturing ship paint. It adds TBT to the paint because its toxicity prevents algae and other marine organisms from attaching themselves to ships' hulls. TBT leaches from the paint and is severely damaging the marine environment around the world.

"'Atofina' is fully aware of the damage it's causing the marine environment yet it is refusing to stop producing this toxic paint. It's vital it takes its responsibility, stops making and using TBT and switches to less damaging alternatives that are readily available on the market," said Greenpeace toxics campaigner, Eco Matser. The European organisation of paint producers, CEPE, acknowledges that alternatives are available on the market worldwide. Many major shipping companies, such as Maersk, Cunard Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Strintzis, P&O North Sea Ferries and the Mediterranean Shipping Company, have already stopped using TBT paint on their vessels because of the environmental damage it causes.

In 1999, Greenpeace sampled sediment in many harbours of the world and revealed that, in some, concentrations of TBT in mud can be up to a hundred thousand times above background levels (3). Scientists have found that TBT disrupts the hormone system in shell fish and is contaminating the tissues of whales, seals, sea otters and water birds worldwide.

World governments are so concerned about the toxic effects of TBT that they are preparing to sign a treaty tomorrow, banning it by January 2003. 'Atofina' and the TBT industry are lobbying heavily against the swift implementation of the treaty. "World governments want TBT to go. Industry must respect this decision to protect the environment rather than pursuing short term profit. It must accept that, in today's world, there is no place for toxic products like TBT," said Matser.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Eco Matser, Greenpeace toxics campaigner on + 31 + 31 6 212 969 19
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International press desk on + 31 6 535 04701

(1) The barrels contained mud dredged from TBT contaminated harbours in Brazil, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Previous analysis by Greenpeace revealed that these harbours are heavily contaminated with TBT. see note (3) for further details.

(2) The United Nations International Maritime Organisation (IMO) diplomatic meeting ends tomorrow when governments are scheduled to sign the treaty banning TBT.

(3) see http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics for further information

Earlier this week, Greenpeace returned contaminated mud, dredged from Zeebrugge and Antwerp harbours to 'Atofina'. Last week, they returned six barrels of TBT contaminated mud to the 'Sigma' paint company in Antwerp.