The hull of the former cargo ship Luna S will be dismantled in Bordeaux

Docked in the Toulon naval base since 2013, the hull of the former cargo ship Luna S was taken in charge by the semi-submersible vessel Yacht Express to be dismantled by the CARDEM shipyards within the grand port maritime de Bordeaux. During an anti-drug trafficking operation in the Mediterranean, the cargo ship Luna S, flying the Tanzanian flag, was boarded in September 2013 by a vessel of the Marine nationale. Upon seeing the latter, the crew set fire to the ship and the approximately twenty tons of cannabis resin it was carrying. Once the fire was controlled by the French sailors supported by their Algerian counterparts, the cargo ship was diverted and brought back to the military port of Toulon. Following various procedures that notably led to the sentencing of seven sailors to prison terms ranging from 3 to 7 years, the ship was deflagged and subjected to forfeiture of ownership. In order to clear the docks of the Toulon naval base, which are undergoing major upgrading and development work, the departure of the hull of the Luna S was necessary. Under the supervision of the southern platform of the commissariat des armées, the public contract for the dismantling of this hull was the subject of a call for tenders taking into account various criteria. In application of these and their weighting, the company CARDEM was selected and awarded the contract at the end of 2023.

On June 17, the hull of the former Luna S left the Toulon naval base to be dismantled by the CARDEM shipyards in Bordeaux. In order to limit the risk of sinking, given the age of the hull, it was loaded onboard a semi-submersible vessel, the Yacht Express. To ensure safe transport, the removal of hazardous waste and asbestos abatement work have already been carried out within the military port of Toulon. With the support of tugboats from the Chambon company of the civil port of Toulon, chartered by the CARDEM company, the hull was moved from the docks of the military port to the grande rade de Toulon where the Yacht Express was waiting. Once the loading and securing operations were completed, the vessel set sail for Bordeaux, where it is expected by the end of June. The CARDEM company will proceed with the dismantling work in the installation classée "protection de l'environnement" (ICPE) of the grand port maritime de Bordeaux. This ICPE is included on the European list of approved ship recycling facilities, which guarantees that the hull is handled in accordance with the regulations in force.