Photo of the hazardous waste containing ship Novocherkassk tugged by a tug boat on the Mediterranean. Although Turkey has banned the import of toxic waste and is party to the Basel Convention, European countries continue sending ships containing toxic waste to Turkey. In June 2003 Greenpeace unearths another example of this practice: The Novocherkassk, a cargo vessel that is tugged to Turkey to be broken down, is said to have toxic wastes such as PCB's and asbestos on board. Greenpeace urges the Turkish authorities to send the vessel back to Vigo, a port in Spain, where it was first abandoned by its owner and then bought by a German company.