'Ghost ships' issue debated

The Canisteo was the second US vessel to arrive at Hartlepool

The controversy over the arrival of the so-called "ghost ships" in the UK foreshadows a looming dilemma about how to get rid of up to 2,000 redundant vessels, a government minister said.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley gave evidence to the Commons Environment Select Committee on the issue of the former US navy ships.

Hartlepool-based Able UK has won a multi-million pound contract to decommission 13 of the disused vessels and has said the future of the site depends on being allowed to complete the contract.

Two of the vessels, the Caloosahatchee and Canisteo, have already arrived, and a further two are due to arrive on Teesside soon.

The UK Government has agreed the ships can remain on Teesside until the spring as it is too dangerous to make the return voyage in winter conditions.

But there have been fierce protests from environmental groups and the future of the ships remains uncertain after a legal challenge by Friends of the Earth.

Campaigners say toxic chemicals including PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and asbestos on the US ships pose a risk.

Find out what is on board the ghost fleet

Mr Morley told the committee the immediate legal dispute over the ships was a matter for the courts to decide

But he said in the longer term, the government is among those pressing for an international phase out of single hulled tankers, which are considered a risk to maritime and coastal environments.

He said: "We are confident we will be successful. Between now and 2015 something like 2,000 single hulled tankers will be in the market for recycling."

He said that would put pressure on recycling facilities around the world and so there was a strong argument for facilities like those on Teesside.

Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency, told the committee that its view was that a properly authorised dismantling of the vessels was preferable to repatriation.

Outlaw import

Peter Mandelson, the Hartlepool MP and former Northern Ireland Secretary, told the committee he wanted all 13 vessels to come to the North East.

He stressed that he would not support the project if there was any question of a threat to the health of any constituent.

On Wednesday, Euro MPs in Strasbourg approved plans to outlaw the import into any EU country of toxic waste containing PCBs because of their toxicity.

The import ban, if approved by EU governments, will apply to waste contaminated by PCBs intended either for disposal or recycling, including toxic materials on ships destined for the breaker's yard and is due in force in 2005.

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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