Turkish Ship with Suspected Toxic Cargo Docks in Albania for Inspection

Albanian authorities to investigate and test the ship's cargo after environmental concerns were raised by a watchdog organization.

The Turkish-flagged Moliva XA443A was initially barred from docking at Durres, Albania's main port, due to suspicions of carrying hazardous waste.
The Basel Action Network (BAN), an environmental NGO, alerted Albanian authorities in August about the ship's cargo, suspected to be 2,100 tons of toxic dust from steel industry filters.
Prosecutors ordered the cargo to be unloaded and inspected, with lab tests to be conducted to determine the potential environmental risks.
The ship's journey included stops in Turkey and Italy after Thailand refused the shipment, raising questions about international hazardous waste disposal practices.
Albanian opposition accuses the government of illegal waste trafficking, while officials insist the cargo is not classified as toxic under European standards.