ANKARA - Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said on Friday that M/V Ulla which sank in Iskenderun, would be returned from Turkey to Spain in March.
Pepe told A.A correspondent that talks carried out with Spain for return of Spanish-flagged M/V Ulla having toxic waste. The ship is still under water.
Pepe said transfer of the ship would not have any cost for Turkey, and noted Lafarge company undertook this procedure which would cost approximately 1.5 million U.S. dollars.
Pepe said return of the ship would constitute a sample for the other ships sank off shores in Turkey, ''to this end this is an important development.''
M/V Ulla sank after sitting at Iskenderun Bay for four years.
Asland company, without getting permission from Spanish government, sent the ship having toxic waste consisting of three thermal power plants to Algeria.
The 35 year-old ship MV Ulla arrived in Iskenderun Bay in February-March 2000, after Algeria returned it. The ship was carrying 2200 tons of fly ash, originating from three coal power plants in Spain.
The ship sunk on September 6th, 2004 with its toxic wastes.
Spanish government applied to legal ways against the company as it took the ship outside the country without getting permission. Asland is an affiliate of French Lafarge company which undertakes the responsibility of pulling the ship.