成人快手

Under a new UK Ship recycling policy, the riskiest parts of the scrapping process now have to be carried out in the EU before ships are sent abroad.

It was announced that the former French Navy aircraft carrier, Clemenceau was to be broken up at Hartlepool.

Preparatory work begins on board the Ghost Ships.

On 30 June, 2008, after years of bitter legal wrangling, the Environment Agency granted a licence to break up the controversial "ghost ships" on Teesside.

Hartlepool Council's planning committee deferred a decision on four planning applications, relating to the scrapping of the Ghost Ships.

Protests as decision day looms.

In a meeting which saw one protestor removed by police, others continually interrupting speakers, and members of the public being allowed to pass messages to committee members, the planning committee eventually decided they had insufficient information to reach a conclusion.

By now it seemed likely the final decision on the Ghost Ships would be taken by the Planning Inspectorate, who were to begin a Public Inquiry in Hartlepool, the following Tuesday.

Able UK said it should now be able to dismantle the so called US Ghost ships in Hartlepool, after Hartlepool Council announced it would not offer any evidence at an appeal hearing by the Planning Inspectorate. However, the Inspectorate was still expected hold an inquiry, to allow other protestors the opportunity to voice their concerns.

Environmental campaigners were celebrating after Able UK lost the remainder of its contract, to recycle 13 US naval vessels. It meant only the 4 vessels already on Teesside would be broken for scrap at the company's Graythorp yard and even that depended on the result of a planning appeal.

The US Marine Administration suggested the ships could be recalled to America, saying it had called a stop to the dismantling programme because of environmental concerns. Peter Stephenson from Able UK said he was confident the ships were going nowhere, and that the ongoing delays over their contract meant Hartlepool was missing out on jobs.

Hartlepool Council rejected plans to dismantle the Ghost Ships on Teesside. Campaigners claimed the vessels contained toxic and dangerous substances and were worried about the environmental impact. The council threw out the application by Able UK, saying it was worried about the impact it would have on the tourist trade.