When a vote was taken, councillors unanimously backed it.

During the debate Councillor Dennis Waller said: "All the people in Hartlepool, it appears to me, don't want this to happen, and that's enough for me."

Independent councillor Stephen Allison said the idea of scrapping the ships was 'an excellent one', but objected to the way this deal was being done.

Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Burey added: "I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered and that a public inquiry is in order."

Protesters have campaigned for the retired US ships to be denied entry because of the asbestos, heavy oil and small amounts of chemicals known as PCBs on the vessels.

Eco-groups have argued strongly that the US should handle its own waste.

The exact status of the ships was plunged into confusion last week when the Environment Agency, which is regulating the ship importing deal, withdrew permission for the deal to go ahead after earlier approving it.

Four of the 'ghost ships' are already bound for Able UK's Graythorp yard.

It is thought that the first two ships are near the coast of Africa.

The councillors' vote echoes concerns aired by Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond. He said: "We must prevent a situation whereby the ships are floating around off the coast of Hartlepool with nowhere to go. This can be prevented if they return to the USA now."

After the meeting, protesters opposed to the 'ghost ships' coming to Teesside said the vote was encouraging.

"I'll be happy when the people we have voted to represent us see that these ships are sent back," said Geoff Lilley.

"We are happy that at long last Hartlepool Council has made a statement of its position.

"Thank God we have a few councillors who have pushed this issue forward into the public arena."

The 'ghost ships' were again debated in Parliament yesterday.

In the House of Commons last night, shadow environment secretary David Lidlington said the 'muddle and confusion at the heart of Government utterly undermines public trust'.

Environment minister Elliot Morley said the Environment Agency (EA) was satisfied with Able UK's ability to deal with the ships in an environmentally sound manner.

Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson told the Commons he believed both the minister and the EA had dealt with the matter responsibly and conscientiously throughout ­ and still thought the contract could go ahead.

Mr Mandelson also said it was vital for all necessary permissions and licences to be in place before work began.

"There is no reason in principle why that work should not be carried out in future by Able UK," added Mr Mandelson.

Mr Morley agreed that whatever arguments there were about licences and consents, no one doubted the quality and ability of Able UK to deal with such work or the skills or expertise of the workforce.