Toxic French aircraft carrier to be scrapped in England

...on its way to Britain to join the ranks of so-called "ghost ships" on the banks of the River Tees...

Some of those ghost ships have been lying there since 2003 as reported on BBC, this is just one more in the line.

gazettelive.co.uk has more.

Couldn't they just sink it in 6 mile deep ocean.

sinking it would seem logical. it will corrode and just become part of the sea floor, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. 1000 ft would probably be enough

i know that Carrier well. It was a flag ship of the French Navy once.

Asbestos is not allowed as a banned product, UK used to use asbestos as an insulating material until its health damages was reported in the media by a concerned government, then the purge to rid buildings not only in UK asbestos cause a great problem concerning building insurance that ended up as a financial crisis and some funny goings on in Lloyd's of London where risks where past on to unsuspecting outsiders.(hmm similarly as the financial risks of American securities have caused problems outside of America).

There are of course experts in the field of Asbestos removal and good guidelines on its safe removal under UK Health and Safety laws. It then stand out clearly that if the Asbestos is removed and disposed of not to cause an environmental problem, why sink the boat and waste te recycled metal thus loss an income on its disposal and not waste useful metal.  

Toxic is however not a term really in reference to Asbestos its danger is not of a toxic nature its actually a breathing hazard and its dust fibers cause a lung related disease similar to miners or farmers lung, not related to a poison.  So asbestos is better declared as an airborne health hazard. Actually in a non damaged state its harmless it only becomes a danger when damaged and great care in wearing an industrial mask, good protective glasses and protective clothing is a now must when handling asbestos.

UK of course has not rid all of its building of asbestos and from time to time a news story can be found in local news papers about a discovery of asbestos in a classroom of a public building. Its problems where over hyped by the media much of the asbestos had been sandwiched with no asbestos material with not much chance of exposure and I must admit to owning an old ironing board that had a asbestos heat insulating pad, in fact many people still do. I also expect in your own country this could be when damage health hazard is still around in an old fire wall or even as part of a buildings external ceiling etc.

I have handled plenty of asbestos during my life without a mask before the dangers where known and thankfully I have still a good set of lungs. Yes its a problem and I am glad it was banned but the problem was over hyped as usual but it was for the best.  

Just an anecdote.

I am an ex-matelot, and was in Toulon four or five years ago, visiting friends. I was thus horrified to see the Clemenceau docked there, in full view of the many tourists, rusting sadly away whilst waiting for the French Government to have the courage to do something about it.

I mean, to a matelot, this awful lack of respect is like leaving your deceased Grandma on the path outside your house for a week!!

She was a fine piece of engineering for her time....RIP.