Clemenceau joins the 'ghost' ships

摘要

After 10 yars of legal action and an abandoned voyage to dismantlers in India, the 32,780-tonne Clemenceau is ending her days among the 'ghost ships' of recycler Able UK in Hartlepool. Once the pride of the French navy and a veteran of the first Gulf war, the 225m 'Le Clem' has been a problem for the French government since her decommissioning in 1997 because of 700 tonnes of asbestos between her decks. A number of countries refused to take her, and she was turned back after being banned from the Suez canal.rnThe eighth carrier to serve in the French navy, in service from 1961 to 1997, she is now due to be recycled as part of a £3.5 million deal between the French government and Able UK. At 225m in length and more than 30,000 tonnes, she will become the largest ship yet to be recycled in Europe.