2 October 2003 – A US court is preparing to rule on a move by environmentalists to stop a so-called "toxic ghost fleet" of former navy ships sailing to the UK for scrapping.

Campaigners claim chemicals, asbestos and fuel oil contained in the 13 vessels - part of a larger fleet of old decommissioned US ships - could pose a serious risk if the ships deteriorate during the journey.

Two American pressure groups have launched a court action in Washington DC, to prevent the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) from allowing the first two ships to leave their shores.

But the contract to scrap the vessels would create about 200 jobs and is worth £16m to the Teesside firm that is waiting to receive the 40- to 50-year-old ships.

'Scaremongering'

As campaigners filed their action on Wednesday, the UK's Environment Agency approved the decision to bring the ships to the UK for scrapping, saying it was "a better solution for the environment than disposing of vessels in under-developed countries".

The contractor, Able UK, has poured scorn on environmentalists' concerns - which are backed by green groups in the UK - as "scaremongering", and insisted the ships are safe to sail.

Managing director Peter Stephenson said: "There is no more risk to the marine environment during transportation than for any other ship on the high seas."

The ruling on whether they will make the 4,000 mile journey from Virginia to Hartlepool is expected on Thursday afternoon.

Following legal action from US groups the Basel Action Network (BAN) and Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, the district of Columbia judge will decide whether to grant a temporary restraining order against MARAD.

'Hazardous'

Such a ruling would confine the ships to a dock in James River, Virginia, until a full court hearing can take place.

Any delay could pose a significant problem for the US authorities and Able UK, as the vessels have to be moved by mid-October to avoid heavy seas.

A spokesman for the Sierra Club said: "The 13 ships are in serious states of deterioration with several of them already having leaked oil into the James River in Virginia."

He added: "According to the government's own estimates the vessels are laden with 100 tons of persistent and toxic PCBs (chemicals which are difficult to destroy), and over 3,000 long tons of fuel oils."

After Wednesday's hearing, Martin Wagner, a lawyer for US legal firm Earthjustice, said: "We argued that because of the dilapidated condition of these ships and the fact that they do contain... large numbers of really hazardous materials, that there was the risk of them leaking or completely falling apart."

The decision to transport the ships - confirmed in July - has also been condemned by Green Party activists in the North East, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick, Alan Beith, and the party's environment spokesman Norman Baker.

Chairman of the Northumbria Tourist Board and Durham county councillor Bob Pendlebury said the move would damage efforts made to purge the North East of its reputation for "dirt and dereliction".