Ally

Radio New Zeland International recently reported that the treatment of half a million litres of waste oil discharged by P&O Cruises near Vanuatu's capital Port Vila has been put on hold.

Vanuatu's Quarantine Department has put the process on hold because of concerns that the chemical to be used to treat the waste sludge is environmentally dangerous itself.

The disposal of the environmentally hazardous waste late last year triggered outrage among locals and prompted P&O to conduct a remediation plan.

The plan involved engaging environmental experts from New Caledonia to come and contain the sludge before carrying out on-site treatment of the waste.

But the president of Shefa Provincial Council, John Markal, says not all of the sludge has been contained.

"I'm really concerned about this. We have a group of consultants who are carrying out research and investigation, and we are pushing for a claim for compensation through the international Maritime convention.

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Ally - CruisingTalk Administrator

1965 - Cunard Queen Mary
1967 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth
1970 - Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2
1971 - P&O Oriana
1972 - SS France
1975 - SS Leopard
1977 - P&O Canberra
2005 - NCL Norwegian Jewel - Shakedown Cruise - Jersey
2005/6 - NCL Norwegian Crown - Chile, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, Uruguay & Argentina - Christmas/New Year cruise
2006 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Amsterdam & Zeebrugge
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Transatlantic - Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda & Azores
2007 - Fred Olsen Braemar Mini Cruise - Guernsey & Amsterdam
2007 - NCL Norwegian Gem - Shakedown Cruise - Amsterdam
2008 - Costa Allegra - Hong Kong, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Saigon, Da-Nang & Sanya

Coming up next.....

10/10/2009 - Costa Classica - Grand Oriental Cruise - Shanghai, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Kobe, Naha, Keelung and Hong Kong - 16 Nights Cruising in: 274 day(s), 9 hour(s), 28 minute(s)