Four ‘ghost ships’ to sail for England
A judge in the United States has ruled that four ships containing dangerous chemicals may sail from America to England to be scrapped. Two of the ships are expected to set sail today.
The ships are four of 13 former US Navy ships that are over 50 years old. The other nine are awaiting a further court decision to find out if they too can be sailed to Hartlepool to be dismantled.
Environmentalists are outraged at the decision. They are very concerned that the old ships will not make the journey to England and threaten to spill deadly chemicals on the way.
The first two ‘ghost ships’ contain 34 tonnes of the deadly chemicals polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos and old heavy fuel.
Friends of the Earth legal adviser Phil Michael told the BBC: ‘We are disappointed that an injunction preventing the departure of the first ships from this toxic ghost fleet has not been granted. But the fight to stop these heavily polluted ships coming to Britain is far from over.’
The ships will be broken down at the Able UK yard in Hartlepool where the work is expected to create up to 200 jobs.
