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Approval nixed for ghost fleet to dock
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A controversial plan to dismantle polluted U.S. ships in Britain was thrown into confusion after Britain's Environment Agency withdrew permission for them to dock. The agency said demolition firm Able UK had not completed all the necessary paperwork but the company insisted all would be resolved in about two weeks. A spokesman for Able UK on Friday said he "genuinely did not know" what would happen to two of the decrepit hulks, currently being towed across the Atlantic, if the impasse is not resolved.
In Washington, the U.S. Maritime Administration, part of the Transportation Department, said in a statement it was "aware" of issues raised by the Environment Agency and that the ships were still sailing towards Britain. "As we work toward a resolution of these issues between the British Environment Agency and Able UK, the ships will continue to transit the Atlantic," the agency said. The ships, some of which date back to World War Two and are polluted with asbestos and other toxic materials, were due to arrive on Teesside, northeast England, next month. Able UK has signed a multi-million pound contract to break and recycle 13 vessels. The Environment Agency said approval had initially been granted on the assumption that all relevant permission would be in place for dry dock dismantling, but that it had been withdrawn when it became clear several plans, including planning permission, had not been put in place. "The Environment Agency's priority is to make sure that the environment is protected and that all the legal requirements are complied with," said agency area manager Craig McGarvey. Able UK said it was satisfied it had the relevant planning permission in place. "We have applied for approvals from the Department for the Environment in relation to work on the dry dock facilities," Managing Director Peter Stephenson said in a statement.
"Given that similar approvals have been given in the past, we are confident that these will be in place by mid-November." Asked by Reuters what would happen now to the ships already on their way, he said: "We genuinely do not know at this stage." The Environment Agency said the ships could dock on Teesside if the appropriate permissions were granted. The scheme has caused an outcry on both sides of the Atlantic, with politicians and green groups saying it posed an unacceptable risk to public safety and the environment. Environmentalists have warned the scheme could set a precedent for exporting other polluted vessels to either Europe or cheaper salvage yards in Asia. Able UK denies the vessels pose a risk and says they will be scrapped in a controlled and professional way. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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The ships will continue to transit the Atlantic.
