news release
    3rd November 2003

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The Environment Agency (EA) has finally come to its senses and revoked permission for the 'Ghost Fleet' to be dismantled in the UK. Surfers Against Sewage are totally behind the decision and are urging the EA to stand their ground and ensure that these floating toxic rust buckets never enter our country.

This change of heart by the EA is due to the fact that Able UK (the company dismantling the vessels) has not got planning permission for a dry dock. Provision of a dry dock was part of the agreement with the US Marine Administration (MARAD), the EA (UK) and Able UK. Without a dry dock the nasty cocktail of chemicals onboard the vessels could end up in the marine system and ultimately in us. The nasty cocktails onboard include asbestos, heavy diesel and carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.

In addition there are discrepancies with Able UK's permit for disposing of the toxic waste generated when the vessels are dismantled; at the present time the company does not appear to have a suitable facility available for the safe disposal of the waste.

Andy Cummins, Campaigns Assistant:

" SAS are delighted that the E.A. have finally intervened in this matter. Our concerns over this issue have been two fold. Firstly we felt that the official system designed to protect the environment was in danger of being completely bypassed in favour of untruths and assumptions. Secondly we feared for the environment, public health and the local economy if the vessels were dismantled and dumped in the North East. We hope the Agency will stick to their guns and use their power to push for the vessels to be recycled in the US".

"Our unease about this whole situation prompted us to demo outside the offices of Able UK last week, gasmasked and armed with our 10ft inflatable toxic drum and 50 limbless lifelike dolls. Some deemed our actions 'sick', we felt it was important that the people of the North East were made aware of the possible long term consequences that accompany the vessels".

What happens now? Well the vessels are still on their way to Hartlepool and are estimated to pass Falmouth on Wednesday 5th November on route to Hartlepool, however, they have no fixed destination. MARAD are keen to keep the vessels in the UK although, Phil Michaels, FoE's legal director, said: "There are grounds for arguing that these vessels must not enter British waters because they have no current destination and represent a very significant pollution risk. The only justifiable course of action is for the Environment Agency to make it clear that they must return to the United States."

The EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom has said that she hoped the vessels would now be dealt with in America. SAS's view is that the US produced the waste and so the US should deal with the waste. If the vessels need repairs before they are sent back to the US then the UK should allow them in our waters, if not, they should be turned back now.

Salvagers in the US have said they want the vessels, locals in Hartlepool have said they don't want to be a toxic waste dump for the US, so the best solution must be to send the 4 vessels on route back to the US and for all of the 'Ghost Fleet' to be dismantled in the US.

There are 200 short term jobs that will be created by the 'Ghost Fleet' in the North East, an area of major unemployment, but the 'Ghost Fleet' will put at risk many more sustainable jobs in the tourism and adventure sports sector at risk. Hartlepool itself has had £250 million spent on transforming it to a tourist attraction and is been promoted as a great place for a city break. The 'Ghost Fleet' will do this image no good at all. The Government is trying to promote a healthier active lifestyle but at the same time it may be inadvertently making this lifestyle hard to attain by actions such as allowing these vessels in.

"The Environment Agency's priority is to make sure that the environment is protected and that all the legal requirements are complied with," said Craig McGarvey, an Agency Area Manager. With this in mind SAS feel that it is astonishing that the EA would consider granting another license to Able UK even if they can get all the relevant licenses in place. From their dealings with the 'Ghost Ship' contract so far, Able appear to be a company that does not factor adequate environmental protection into their activities - this sounds warning bells for SAS.

Able UK appear to have assumed that permission would be granted, Mr Stephenson, Able UK's owner said yesterday: "Given that similar approvals have been given in the past, we are confident that these will be in place by mid-November."
When dealing with a possible environmental, economical and social disaster surely assumption is not good enough to go on. From SAS's perspective, this is where the problems started!

Andy Cummins:
"SAS would like to thank all of its supporters who helped in our campaign to turn these vessels around and also the other environmental groups who played their parts. However, the battle may be won but the war still goes on. We need to keep up pressure on the EA so they don't lay down and let pressure from the US and Able UK change their minds again and we urge members and anyone else who cares to write to their local MP and/or Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson, 9 Scarborough Terrace, Hartlepool, TS24 7DA, alternatively you can email him via his website www.petermandelson.com"

For further information please contact Andy Cummins or Vicky Garner on 0845 458 3001

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