14 October 2003 – A senior EU official has said the United States should not send a so-called toxic ghost fleet of rusting former naval ships to Britain to be scrapped.

Teesside-based Able UK has signed a multi-million pound deal to scrap the ships, which are contaminated with asbestos, PCBs, which are used in plastics, and other chemicals.

Environmentalists and wildlife groups have called on the UK government to ban the ships because they fear an ecological disaster if they break up en-route.

Now EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom wants the US Government to recall the four ships already on their way to Able UK's Hartlepool yard.

Ms Wallstrom said sending the ships to Teesside was too great a risk to the environment.

She said the ships should not be allowed to cross the Atlantic for scrapping.

She said "We are looking into the legal aspects of this.

"I don't think this makes sense at all. I think they should keep the ships in the US. Why should they drive them across the Atlantic?

'Hazardous substances'

"It seems to me too much of an environmental risk.

"I will write a letter to the US Government and I will raise it with (UK) Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett.

"It doesn't make any sense to take that risk by sending these apparently very hazardous ships and old ones, also leaking hazardous substances into the James River in America, to England.

"I propose that we instead send the expertise in the other direction if necessary.

"We can assist them in dealing with these ships and how to break them up and recover them. But keep them there, don't send them here."

Able UK has signed a £16m deal to scrap the vessels, creating 200 jobs.

The company has assured the UK government and environmental agencies that there is no risk to the public or the environment with the decommissioning work.

Able UK says it has taken steps to ensure that the environment is properly protected.

A spokesman said: "These vessels have been subject to far more stringent checks by far more agencies tham probably any other ships which have come into the Tees."