Dutch Environment Minister Pieter Van Geel announced the Netherlands would take back the toxic ship Otapan; denied entry to Turkish waters because of the 54 tons of carcinogenic asbestos it contained.
In Lahey, Van Geel said the Otapan would be granted permission to return to the Netherlands, but it would not be dismantled there due to the high costs involved.
Van Geel recalled he apologized to the Turkish authorities in Ankara for providing inaccurate information about the amount of asbestos in the ship and reiterated the Mexican Basilisk company, the owner of the Otapan, was responsible for the misunderstanding.