‘Ghost ship’ plan on hold

The controversial plan to decommission thirteen toxic ex-US Navy ships at a facility in Teesside has been put on hold, following ongoing legal battles over the issue.

The company scheduled to carry out the work, Able UK, have drawn criticism for not be able to guarantee environmental safety with a dry dock, as planning permission for the construction has been refused. UK-based NGO Friends of the Earth threatened court action in a bid to block the ships entry into the UK, while US environmental groups have already begun a legal challenge against the plan.

Further environmental assessments will be carried out on the vessels, currently docked in the James River, Virginia, before a decision is made in 2004.