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Regular Updates from the Crew aboard the Ship, MV Greenpeace.

SEPTEMBER 13 - TBT ACTION MOVES TO THE HARBOUR AUTHORITIES

Greenpeace this morning ended it's five day occupation of the dredging barge 'Hein'. The dredging company', Van der Kamp, filed an injunction against Greenpeace this morning and the court ordered Greenpeace to stop the action.The action has stopped all dumping of toxic sludge from Rotterdam harbour for five whole days, preventing over 100,000 tons of toxic sludge from being dumped in the North Sea.

To remind the water and the harbour authorities of their responsibility to finally put an end to the dumping, Greenpeace activists this morning dumped six sacks containing thousands of kilo's of toxic sludge from Rotterdam harbour on the doorstep of the harbour authorities in Rotterdam. The sludge contains high concentrations of tributyltin (TBT), an aggressive biocide used in anti-fouling paint (the paint prevents the growth of algae and barnacles on the ship's hull). TBT, once released into the environment, pollutes the water and accumulates in sediments.

Greenpeace activists hand over a sample of TBT polluted Rotterdam sludge to the Harbour Authorities.