Controversy Over Sinking of 32,000-ton 'Ghost' Aircraft Carrier Drifting in the Atlantic Ocean

Brazilian Navy Announces Plan to Scrap 30,000-ton Aircraft Carrier
Unable to Sell as Scrap Due to 'Asbestos Controversy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] The Brazilian Navy has announced plans to sink a decommissioned aircraft carrier that has been drifting at sea for months in the Atlantic Ocean, sparking controversy.

On the 1st (local time), according to foreign media including CNN, the Brazilian Navy announced that it would sink the conventional aircraft carrier 'Sao Paulo,' which has been drifting off the coast of Brazil for months, within Brazilian waters in the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to the decision, the Brazilian prosecution filed an injunction to halt the Navy's action, accepting opinions from environmental groups opposing the marine disposal of the ship and the Ministry of Environment, but the court dismissed the injunction on the same day.

The Brazilian Navy stated in a press release, "Considering that the conditions of the ship floating on the sea have deteriorated and it is inevitable that it will sink uncontrollably, there is no other option but to dispose of the hull and sink it in the planned manner."

The Brazilian Navy announced on the 1st (local time) plans to scuttle the decommissioned aircraft carrier S?o Paulo in the Atlantic Ocean. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Sao Paulo has endured many hardships over the past 60 years. The original name of the Sao Paulo was 'Foch.' When it was built in France in 1963, it was named after the French World War I general Ferdinand Foch. When first constructed, this ship was called a modern aircraft carrier, with a full load displacement of about 32,000 tons and the capacity to carry 40 aircraft. The 'Foch,' which served in the French Navy for nearly 40 years, was sold to Brazil in 2000.

Renamed 'Sao Paulo,' the ship became the Brazilian Navy's only conventional aircraft carrier. Expectations for the Sao Paulo were high. At the time, Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso said, "The commissioning of the Sao Paulo has enhanced our Navy's ability to protect the nation's interests." However, as the equipment aged over time and operating costs became unmanageable, the Sao Paulo ended its 20-year service in Brazil in 2018.

There was speculation that it might be used as a museum ship, but the final fate of the Sao Paulo was to become 'scrap.' It was sold to a Turkish shipyard for scrap in 2021. However, the ship, which left the Rio de Janeiro naval base in August last year, was ultimately unable to enter Turkey. Turkish authorities denied entry, citing concerns that the ship might contain hazardous materials such as asbestos.

The ship made a long return journey, but Brazilian ports refused to allow it to dock, citing the excessive risks if the ship were to be left unattended. After drifting off the coast of Brazil for several months, the Sao Paulo earned the new nickname 'ghost,' and eventually, the Brazilian Navy announced plans to sink the ship by puncturing it within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 350 km from the coast.

However, this plan sparked strong opposition from environmental groups. U.S. newsweekly Time reported , "The aircraft carrier, embroiled in an international dispute over toxic substances, is about to become one of the largest pieces of marine debris."

Jim Puckett, director of the Basel Action Network (BAN), an international environmental protection organization, pointed out that dumping the ship into the sea is "a serious negligence and a violation of international environmental agreements." He raised his voice, saying, "The aircraft carrier cannot be sunk in this manner and should be brought back into Brazil and managed in an environmentally sound way."

Nancy Wallace, head of the Marine Debris Program at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), also said, "When there is a ship abandoned at sea, the first thing to consider is that toxic chemicals can have a very large impact on marine animals." According to her, abandoned ships cause oil spills and release chemicals such as paint and microplastics.