Haunted by ghost ships

The Environment News Service reported on 27th May 2007 that the export of ex US naval ships to England for scrapping has been cancelled.

The Bush administration began sending its fleet of rusting hulks on a perilous journey from Virginia across the Atlantic to Teeside ship-breaker Able UK.

However, environmental groups challenged the decision and sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Maritime Administration, MARAD.

They argued that a number of environmental policies were being violated.

Initially the courts allowed four ships to undertake the voyage, but prohibited the passage of a further nine until an Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out. Able UK has been unable to obtain the permits required to scrap the ships

American activists condemned not only the environmental considerations but also the economic consequences of exporting jobs to the UK.

It is expected that the nine ships in the James River will now be put up to bid for domestic ship recyclers.
It is unclear what will happen to four U.S. ships that sit rusting in Teesside. The vessels contain tons of materials contaminated with carcinogenic and toxic substances such as PCBs, asbestos, mercury, and used fuel.

Currently there are 238 old ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, most located in Texas, Virginia and California, that will need to be dismantled. The groups warn that some of the ships are in dangerous condition and pose an environmental threat as they have never been emptied of fuels, oils and other hazardous substances.

To read the full article click on the link below
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2007/2007-05-31-09.asp