Ahern claims inability to stop contaminated ships’ passage

THE Government claimed yesterday it was powerless to halt a fleet of toxic ghost ships from the USA passing by the Irish coast en route to a scrapyard in Britain.

Amid warnings that the Irish coast was highly vulnerable, if any accident occurred involving the four US vessels, Minister for the Marine Dermot Ahern said the coastguard was liaising with the British and US authorities.

Despite the British Environment Agency withdrawal of approval for the dismantling of 13 rusting toxic vessels at its yard in Hartlepool, Cleveland, in England, the first four ships are still on the way.