Gandhinagar, Jan 7 (IANS) Platinum II, a ship allegedly carrying toxic material near Bhavnagar in Saurashtra region of Gujarat has virtually run aground. Now, dismantling it is a foregone conclusion.

According to sources in the Gujarat Maritime Board it is now left with no option but to permit the breaking of the ship.

'The bottom of the ship is almost touching land,' a source said. The ship anchored off Alang is a virtual wreck reduced to this state because of a tug of war between the government and activists.

Since the second week of October Platinum II has been awaiting central sanction for dismantling even as voluntary organisations campaigned for it to be turned back alleging that it was carrying over 200 tonnes of toxic asbestos and polychloride biphenyl. The state government said it had the facilities for dealing with such a problem if it existed.

Originally a US luxury liner under the name SS Oceanic, the ship was first renamed SS Independence and then Platinum II.