Residents in the Croatian coastal city of Split held a peaceful protest on Tuesday over the planned removal of asbestos-containing panels from the decommissioned Italian ferry Moby Drea, docked at the Brodosplit shipyard.
The 50-year-old vessel, which arrived from Genoa, contains approximately 350 tonnes of compact asbestos within its interior partition panels. The work to dismantle the panels is expected to last two months before the ship is relocated to Greece.
Brodosplit officials sought to calm public concerns, stating that the asbestos is not airborne but compact and sealed between metal sheets. The panels will not be cut but dismantled, wrapped in protective foil, and stored on pallets before being collected by a licensed waste disposal company.
“All disposal will be handled by a certified contractor, and an independent, accredited body will monitor air quality throughout each phase of the operation to ensure no risk to workers, residents, or the environment,” the shipyard said in a statement. Documentation will be maintained in accordance with legal obligations, it added.
Workers involved in the removal volunteered for the task and underwent occupational health assessments, including chest X-rays. They will use one-time protective suits and special masks.
Local politician Igor Skoko of the Centar party criticised the lack of transparency, claiming Split’s mayor Tomislav Šuta met with Brodosplit representatives 10 days prior without informing the public.
In a statement, the City of Split urged all competent national and expert bodies to ensure strict oversight of the operation.
“Inspection services are on site, and the mayor has requested regular updates. The city will continue to insist on full transparency and timely public communication regarding all health and environmental aspects of this process,” the statement said.