THE Clemenceau aircraft carrier was built to replace the multi-role carriers that America and Britain had provided France with at the end of World War II.
Le Clem, as the vessel is affectionately known, served in Lebanon, Yugoslavia, and Iraq during its lifetime in operation.
It caused an international storm three years ago when the authorities in France agreed it could set sail for India to be brok
en up.
Back to main story>>In December 2004, before the Clemenceau set sail for India, Greenpeace started protesting against France's plans to outsource the scrapping of the warship.
Environmental protesters said the ship was packed with toxins including asbestos, PCBs, lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals.
In December 2005 the Clemenceau left the French port of Toulon to be dismantled in Alang, Gujarat, India. However, in January 2006 the Supreme Court of India temporarily denied access to Alang.
When the ship reached Egypt she was boarded by two Greenpeace activists and the authorities denied access to the Suez Canal.
The ship was finally allowed to pass but that decision was heavily criticised by Greenpeace and other environmental groups.
On the same day French President Jacques Chirac ordered the vessel to return to the naval port of Brest and to remain on standby.
The French ministry of defence later awarded the dismantling contract to Able UK after authorisation was granted by the HSE.
Both French and British Governments are currently in talks regarding the export of the ship to the UK and it is expected to berth in Hartlepool within several weeks.
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