Project Dubai commited to revamp SS Norway

Dubai, Aug 26: Plans are still underway to save the former transatlantic liner SS Norway and convert it into a luxury floating hotel instead of junking it in India's Alang port, Project Dubai officials said.

Project Dubai has been working for months to buy the ship SS Norway from Indian scrappers in an effort to save it.

Support for Project Dubai continues to grow, with more than 50,000 people pledging to save the ship.

Indian authorities are coming under sustained attack for allowing the 'beaching' of the ship in Alang in an apparent defiance of a Supreme Court order.

As SS Norway is thought to contain more that 1,000 tonnes of asbestos, Project Dubai has pledged to remove the hazardous materials from the ship using the 'highest known international standards of safety' before refurbishing her past glory, Khaleej Times reported.

Briac Beilvert, chief executive officer of Paris-based Ship Decommissioning Industries, told the paper that his company had conducted a detailed inspection of the ship in 2003 following a boiler room explosion that eventually led to the decision to it.

He further rejected the Gujarat Pollution Board report in respect ofasbestos and said there was around 1,200 tonnes of asbestos as well as other pollutants on the ship.

UNI