Thai Ports Block Maersk Ships Suspected of Carrying Hazardous Waste from Albania
Hazardous Waste Albania. According to Thai authorities, two Maersk container ships suspected of transporting hazardous furnace waste from Albania to Thailand have been denied entry to Thai ports and are being rerouted back to Europe. The vessel, believed to be carrying 816 tonnes of toxic steel furnace dust, was initially headed for Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri province. The Basel Action Network (BAN), an NGO dedicated to preventing toxic waste exports, alerted Thai officials to the shipment, prompting swift action.
Concerns Over Hazardous Waste and Environmental Risks
The toxic dust on board the ships is a byproduct of pollution control filters used in steelmaking. BAN raised concerns that the hazardous waste could be illegally dumped or even spread on agricultural land if allowed to enter Thailand, posing significant environmental and public health risks. Earlier this year, a similar shipment intercepted in China contained toxic lead levels exceeding 8%. If the waste is classified as hazardous under the Basel Convention, it could be confiscated and returned to Albania.
Maersk Collaborates with Authorities to Reroute Ships To Avoid Hazardous Waste Albania.
The Thai Department of Industrial Works and Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri have closely monitored the situation. The Maersk Candor, one of the ships in question, was last reported near South Africa and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore on August 24. The second vessel, the Maersk Campton, is expected to reach Singapore by Thursday but has now been rerouted back to Italy. Maersk, in cooperation with Singaporean authorities, is working to ensure the safe return of the containers to Albania. Hazardous Waste Albania
