Anger as more 'ghost ships' near

The first ship arrived on Teesside on Wednesday

Friends of the Earth says the decision to allow more ships due to be scrapped to dock in the UK is creating an environmental threat.

Two US vessels have already arrived, and now permission has been given for two more to stay in the UK.

Peter Mandelson, MP for Hartlepool where the ships are destined to be broken up, says the fears are based on "misinformation".

Campaigners believe toxic chemicals and asbestos on the US ships pose a risk.

'Huge controversy'

Able UK, which decommissions oil rigs, has won an £11m contract from the US authorities to decommission 13 disused vessels and has said the future of the site depended on being allowed to complete the contract.

Two ships, the Caloosahatchee and Canisteo, have already arrived in the North East port despite fierce protests from environmental groups.

The Department for Environment announced on Saturday that another two, the Canopus and Compass Island, currently on their way across the Atlantic could also spend the winter there.

They pose no danger to Hartlepool - they are not located near any centre of population Peter Mandelson, MP for Hartlepool

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper, said: "According to American figures the Canopus is itself bringing over 500 tonnes of hazardous materials to be disposed of adjacent to the community around Hartlepool.

"The government already has a huge controversy on its hands, and if they had sent these second two ships to another British port they could have spread this controversy even more widely."

But Mr Mandelson said he had inspected the ships that have already docked along with Environment Agency experts on Friday.

He said they posed no threat.

"The facts are very different from what is commonly understood," he said.

"There is no cargo of oil or chemicals, toxic or otherwise.

Find out what is on board the ghost fleet

"There is no more than the usual amount of asbestos you get in all such old structures."

He said claims that the ships were carrying 700 tonnes of chemical PCBs were "simply untrue".

Conditions imposed

"They pose no danger to Hartlepool. They are not located near any centre of population."

The Department for Environment said in a statement it would be too dangerous for the ships to attempt a return crossing of the Atlantic at this time of year.

On Wednesday, the Environment Agency approved a modification of a waste management licence to allow the ships to dock in Hartlepool.

Conditions will be imposed which will prevent any breaking up of the US vessels in the UK.

Able UK says that if the work is not allowed to go ahead it will cost the firm a bond of more than £3m as well as millions of pounds worth of future business.

Business leaders in the region issued a statement backing Able UK and criticised the way the situation had been handled.

Protesters have called for a public inquiry into the government's handling of the affair.

The Environment Agency has sought to play down fears over the ships, saying they are no greater risk than much of the shipping going in and out of UK ports on a daily basis.

Oils and oily ballast water could cause damage to the marine environment.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen but is denser than water and non-soluble.

PCBs have been called "probable carcinogens" and have been linked with neurological and developmental problems in humans.

Mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium are highly toxic metals which accumulate in the body.

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