SC gives green signal for beaching of US ship

The Supreme Court on Monday granted permission for controversial US ship Oriental Nicety, earlier known as 'Exxon Valdez', involved in one of the worst US oil spills off Alaska in 1986, to beach at Gujarat coast and permitted its owner to dismantle the vessel.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted permission for controversial US ship Oriental Nicety, earlier known as 'Exxon Valdez', involved in one of the worst US oil spills off Alaska in 1986, to beach at Gujarat coast and permitted its owner to dismantle the vessel.

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A bench of justice Altamas Kabir and justice J Chelameshwar passed the order after considering the various reports submitted by the Centre, Gujarat Maritime Board and the Atomic Regulatory Board that the ship was free from hazardous material.

The bench said "we direct the authorities concerned to allow the ship to beach and permit the ship owner to proceed after complying with all the requirements of the Gujarat Maritime Board, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.