Looking for the Genova Bridge

After sailing through comparatively clear waters 25 nautical miles from shore all night navigating scattered fishing vessels, I woke up in sandy waters, like in a river. This was enough indication that Alang was close. It is Wednesday, 12th Nov and we were scheduled to be at our destination by around 1500 hrs but made it 30 minutes earlier. Our first job was to find the Genova Bridge, a British vessel that was to be broken here.

Why a British vessel? Because they were opposing the beaching of MARAD (Marine Administration) ships from the USA because they did not conform to British environmental standards, but were themselves sending ships laden with toxic waste to be broken in India. We were blowing their cover and trying to prove the double standards that developed countries practise in all aspects when it comes to cleaning up their own waste.

Sure enough we found here beached on a plot and ready to be cut. Wonder how the European world, especially the British government will react when they read about this in the morning papers, and also the IMO (International Maritime Organisation). And Oh! By the way, the IMO wants to expel Greenpeace from the observer status that we were given, by them, when we over the years brought to their notice the wrongs happening in the industry and proposed cleaner ship production and breaking methods to be practised.

In the evening we receive an unexpected call on the VHF from the local port officials who were on their way to see us. Over the past couple of days we have been in touch with the customs and port authorities about our whereabouts, as we were advised. So this call was at 1930 hrs was quite surprising.

After a briefing on what anchor watches entail it was my shift from 8 pm to midnight. I was aware of the VHF call and kept an eye out on the radar for a vessel approaching. In addition had to also see that we did not drift from our anchor position, this place has a reputation for the currents and great tide changes. After all, further upriver from Alang is the mouth of the surging Narmada river.

Compared to watches at port where we were provided security, anchor watches require more alertness. After all, its not like driving a car or a bike. It's a ship for God's sake, and people's lives are in your hands. At around 2330 hrs the VHF again comes alive with the official voice. Tom our Radio Officer who's been sailing the Greenpeace fleet for a long time now, confidently picks up the radio and gives them our location. The officials come aboard 15 minutes later and start going through the ship's paperwork. Cosmo, our Captain does all the talking about why we are there with Ramapati, our shipbreaking campaigner giving them the details and purpose of our visit - toxics patrol of ships coming to be broken in Alang.

The customs clearance process went on for over an hour. They asked for every single ship document and other unnecessary declarations as well. We were most willing. There was nothing to hide, we had clearly stated our intentions of why the Rainbow Warrior was in India very clear to the press and the people - this is the Corporate Accountability Tour for a Clean Planet being launched in India and our campaign against multinationals operating outside their own countries and practicing double standards, refusing to accept liabilities for the damages they create would continue till we brought them down to their knees.

By the time they cast away from our vessel it was 2 past midnight. All those who were rudely woken up to assist in saying the right things to them quietly slipped away back to their cabins. The rest sat around for a while, chatted and remarked about the whole episode and what would probably happen in the next couple of days. Well that's it for today, has been really long and eventful. Let's see what happens over the next couple of days.