Green Groups Speak At Ship Inquiry
The scrapping of US Navy ships on the Tees was today being put under the microscope.
by Evening Gazette
31 October 2003 (Teeside) – Hartlepool Council's scrutiny co-ordinating committee was today holding an inquiry into the proposed dismantling of the 13 "ghost ships" at Graythorp yard.
Able UK, the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, English Nature, the Industry and Nature Conservation Association, Hartlepool Council, Tees Valley Regeneration and Friends of the Earth were among the organisations giving evidence to today's inquiry.
The summit comes as more groups express reservations about the plan.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds called for no further ships from the "ghost fleet" to set sail for the UK until assurances were given regarding arrangements for their safe reception and dismantling on Teesside.
Nick Mason, conservation manager for the RSPB's North of England region, said: "Until there is a cast iron guarantee this work will have no adverse impacts on the internationally important wildlife of the Tees Estuary, we do not want to see any more ships sets sail."
And English Nature has warned it will withdraw its support if any damage is done to the environment.
EN says it would like the recycling work done in a dry dock at Able UK's Graythorp yard.
But because of a planning row between the company and Hartlepool Council, it is not clear if Able has the permission it needs to make a dry dock, meaning the ships are dismantled in a wet dock. Although that is allowed, English Nature and the Environment Agency have said they would prefer a dry dock to be used.
"If the alternative 'wet dock' scenario was proposed and damage to the wildlife sites was likely, we would object strongly and have to withdraw our support," said EN conservation officer Mike Leakey.
Four of the 13 ghost ships, retired US naval vessels with cancer-linked PCBs, heavy oil and asbestos on board, are expected to arrive at the Graythorp yard in about two weeks.
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