Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
4 February 1997
The Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has now been fully briefed on the issue of the "Pacific Teal" and its passage through South Africa's E.E.Z.
On February 2, 1997 the "Pacific Teal" was observed 150 nautical mils off the South African coast. According to information we have at hand the closest position to the South African coastline was on that same day, 90 nautical miles. On Monday, February 3, the ship was 150 nautical miles from the South African coast, south of Mossel Bay and heading out of South Africa's E.E.Z.
The Ministry was briefed on the voyage of the "Pacific Teal" and its cargo by a joint team representing the French, Japanese and British companies involved, in December 1996. At that time we were given undertakings that the craft would sail well clear of South Africa's E.E.Z.
In terms of international law, South Africa has no authoriexclude vessels from its E.E.Z. a South Africa made no attempt to drive this vessel beyond the 200 nautical mile limit. However, it is the considered judgement of this Ministry that undertakings given to us, by the operators of the "Pacific Teal", have been broken.
The hazards attaching to the movement of nuclear waste through the high seas cannot be over-emphasised. Despite the international conventions regarding the right of innocent passage through the E.E.Z. of South Africa, we would have expected the operators of the "Pacific Teal" to have exercised greater sensitivity in this matter, especially in the light of the concerns South Africa had expressed in our earlier exchanges.
The experience of the "Pacific Teal's voyage along our coast will inform South Africa's future response to the shipment of radio-active waste.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM
For more information please contact: Cassandra Gabriel, Public Relations Officer: Cell - 082 573 4168, Office: 021 457 240