Greenpeace vessel in St. Petersburg for anti-nuclear waste protest

The Esperanza will open its doors to the people of St Petersburg from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (1300-1700 GMT). Visitors can go on free excursions leading them to the deck, the captain's bridge and the cargo hold. They will also learn all about the vessel's history, expeditions and campaigns.

On Thursday at 11:00 a news conference will be held on the boat about the import of depleted uranium to Russia.

Environmental activists gathered on the docks in St. Petersburg on Tuesday in protest against the arrival of Russian cargo ship Kapitan Kuroptev, carrying 650 tons of depleted uranium from the French company AREVA.

According to Greenpeace, 23,540 tons of depleted uranium have been imported to Russia since 2006. The uranium is sent to east Siberia for enrichment, after which it is supposed to be returned to France, although Greenpeace says most of it is simply "dumped in open air dumpsites in Siberia."

A week ago, French Greenpeace activists tore up rail tracks near the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center in southeastern France to stop a shipment of nuclear waste to Russia, saying Russia's state-controlled civilian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom was carrying out a "hidden trade in nuclear waste."

In response to Greenpeace's accusations, Rosatom said the protesters were "drawing attention to an issue that doesn't exist," referring to the contracts on uranium deliveries that expire in 2010; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.