Like a ghost from the past, the famed ocean liner SS France now lies at anchor just off the southwest coast of India pending determination whether 900 tons of asbestos used as a fire retardent throughout the ship can be disposed of safely so the ship can be dismantled.

The ship — which enjoyed a successful second life as the cruise ship Norway — was towed from Malaysia to the Pipavav Port where it will remain pending the safety review ordered by the Supreme Court of India.

Rajiv Reniwal, owner of Haryana Ship  Demolition Company which has purchased the ship, said that if the safety clearance is granted, the ship will be taken to the Alang, about 40 miles north of Pipavav, to be beached and then dismantled.

Greenpeace and other environmental groups have fought to get the Indian courts to ban the ship on grounds it contains toxic materials local shipyards are not equipped to handle.

The Indian Supreme Court in early June permitted "safe anchorage" of the vessel so the ship could be properly examined by a special technical committee, but directed that it not be beached or cut at Alang pending a further court order.

The experts of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board are expected to report on their assessment of the scrapper's ability to safely remove and dispose of the asbestos by the end of next week.

Earlier this year, the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau -- reportedly containing similar hazardous substances -- was bound for dismantling in Alang, but was recalled by the French government after the Indian Supreme Court refused it entry.