The old Brazilian aircraft carrier waits on the high seas for the Justice to let it dock

MSK Maritime Services & Trading, the company responsible for transporting the hull of the former Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier São Paulo, filed an appeal before the Federal Regional Court of the 5th Region to be allowed to dock the ship in the port of Suape, in the State of Pernambuco, in order to carry out inspections and repairs before starting the trip again towards the facilities that Sok Denizcilikve Tic, the shipyard that owns the vessel, has in Turkey.

MSK’s request seeks to annul the precautionary measure granted to the State of Pernambuco that, contrary to the determination of the Brazilian Navy, prevents the docking of the ship due to the alleged environmental, health and nautical risks derived from its structural state and the existence of toxic elements inside.

In the letter, the company points out that Brazil, according to the Basel Convention, inserted into the Brazilian legal system through Decree No. 875/1993, is responsible for accepting the return of exported waste, this being an obligation of an international nature and that It is up to the Navy, and not to the State of Pernambuco or the Port of Suape, to dispose of the seaports and determine the destination of the aircraft carrier.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

The former aircraft carrier NAe São Paulo is a ship that for 20 years belonged to the Brazilian Navy. The ship was sold in 2020 to the Turkish company Sok for dismantling and environmentally friendly recycling at an international shipyard.

When it was already heading to Turkey, the aircraft carrier had to return to Brazil after being denied entry into the Mediterranean and, given the legal impediment to dock in Pernambuco, since October the former flagship of Brazil has been on the high seas, 30 miles from the coast.

The São Paulo was acquired from the French National Navy in 2000, when it bore the name of Foch and she was 43 years old, with almost forty years of active service. The ship had a short operational life in the Brazilian Navy, where it suffered a series of breakdowns and experienced a serious accident with loss of life.

Brazil currently has an aircraft-carrying amphibious assault ship, the NAM Atlantic, which allows the Navy to maintain its ability to use air resources.

With information from Infodefensa

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