Toxic ships can sail for UK, judge rules

Environmentalists were today planning how to block a fleet of toxic “ghost ships” being towed to England for dismantling after a US judge gave the go-ahead for the rusting vessels to leave America.

The scheme has caused controversy in both countries with environmentalists in America lodging a court action to stop the contaminated US Navy ships which have been left to go derelict being towed out of Virginia.

A judge in Washington, however, last night ruled that four ships could be allowed to leave for Teesside while a further court hearing will be held on October 20 to decide the fate of a further nine ships.

The contract to dismantle the ships was won by Able UK which plans to take them apart at Hartlepool, Teesside, UK.

Phil Michaels, of Friends of the Earth, said: “We are exploring all of our legal options and we are particularly concerned at the moment with the decision by the Environment Agency to modify Able’s waste licence in the way it has done and to specifically include ships.

“Even when the ships get here there is not yet in place all the permission that Able needs to build a dry dock.

“Unless they can build that we can’t see how they can possibly take these ships apart in a way that even pretends to be environmentally friendly.

“Although the court case for four ships has gone against us there’s still a number of legal barriers to this work taking place.”

Hartlepool Council said that while general permission to dismantle the ships had been granted the finer details had not been confirmed.

“We have confirmed to Able UK that it does have planning permission for the dismantling and refurbishment of ships at its Graythorp site.

“This is covered under a planning permission granted by the council in 2002 for the continued use of the Graythorp site.

“However, with regard to any physical work at the Graythorp site to create a dry dock, such as the construction of a bund or dam, we continue to review the scope and validity of previous planning permissions granted for the Graythorp site.

“This involves us seeking further evidence and taking further legal advice.

“As such, the planning position remains uncertain until a final judgment can be made on this aspect of the proposals.”

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Norman Baker accused the government of “rolling over for the Americans” and turning Britain into a store for “clapped out environmentally dangerous ships”.

Referring to the UK court’s decision, he said: “That demonstrates that those of us who were concerned that the ships were unsafe have been justified in our approach.

“It equally shows that the British government are prepared to do nothing and abdicate environmental responsibility.

“The ships should be disposed of in the US. It is good environmental practice not to move environmental waste around. The principle must be that you dispose of waste as close as possible to the source. The Americans created it and they should deal with it.

“The government should at an early stage have made it clear to the American authorities instead of facilitating Britain’s role as a repository for clapped out environmentally dangerous ships and rolling over for the Americans,” added Mr Baker.