NEW DELHI, INDIA - India has ordered a probe into whether a former American naval ship heading for a breaking yard on the country's west coast contains toxic materials after protests by environmental groups.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters late Thursday that he had ordered the enquiry into the Platinum II that dropped anchor off the coast of Gujarat on October 4.

He said he hoped "to get the report within the next two days".

The ship has put India's ship-breaking industry back in the spotlight following a previous controversy over the French warship 'Le Clemenceau'.

Laden with toxic asbestos, the French aircraft carrier was turned away from the Alang ship-breaking yard in Gujarat, the world's biggest such facility, in 2006 because of concerns it would endanger the lives of scrapyard workers.

According to Gopal Krishna, head of a lobby group protesting against the US ship, the vessel "contains an estimated 210 tons of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), about 250 tonnes of asbestos besides radioactive material".

The private owners of the ship, previously known as SS Independence during its use in the Navy, agreed to pay a fine of 518,500 dollars in January this year, according to the website of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

In 2008, EPA had pursued them over the alleged illegal export of the ship, then called MV Oceanic, for disposal because of the PCBs on board.

PCBs are harmful chemicals used in wiring and paint and have been banned in the United States. Exporting PCBs is a violation of US law unless authorised by the EPA.

The Gujarat state pollution board insisted the 682-foot (207-metre) long ship did not contain any material detrimental to the health of thousands of workers who will be taking it apart.

"Our evaluation of the ship was done with the help of officials from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and other qualified people. So the charges levelled are false," G. Patel, a Gujarat pollution officer told AFP by phone.