SECRET plans by America to tow a condemned fleet of contaminated ships around the coast of Scotland have triggered fears of an environmental catastrophe.
Dubbed the Ghost Fleet, the 94 derelict and leaking US ships are packed with toxic chemicals, asbestos and oil.
Dubbed the Ghost Fleet, the 94 derelict and leaking US ships are packed with toxic chemicals, asbestos and oil.
It's proposed the first convoy of 13 ships will leave their Virginia base this summer to cross the Atlantic to be dismantled in a wrecking yard on Teesside.
To get there, the leaking hulks will be towed through the narrow Pentland Firth between the mainland and Orkney and down Scotland's east coast.
Environmental campaigners yesterday condemned the plan.
Greenpeace's international toxic and demolition expert Frank Petersen said: "America is using Britain as a dumping ground. We have a huge concern it could be the start of a nightmare.
"If they were to sink off Iceland, Scotland or the Faroes, there would be a terrible environmental impact."
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, whose Orkney constituency is only miles from the proposed route, has called for an investigation into the threat.
Until last month, the ships were banned from leaving US waters.
Five years ago, former US president Bill Clinton ruled they could not be scrapped in Third World countries because their toxic loads risked the lives of the workers.
But his successor George Bush persuaded the US Environmental Protection Agency to lift the ban. Now the Ghost Fleet is coming to Britain.
The Sunday Mail can reveal officials from US Maritime Administration visited shipbreakers Able UK in February. Yesterday, Robyn Boerstling, spokeswoman for the Administration, said: "We are working with a proposer who has an agreement with the facility in Teesside."
She said if a deal could be sealed, the first 13 ships would be towed out of the James River before the hurricane season in late summer.
Some of the 94 former naval ships date from World War II.
The warships, tankers, bulk carriers and tank transporters were part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet - but lay for years unused and rusting on the river.
The hulks have already been blamed for causing oil spills in the river and 70 are so decrepit they have been officially condemned.
The ships are packed with toxic chemicals known as PCBs, which were banned in the 1970s.
Yesterday, a Greenpeace spokesman said: "This is the Bush environmental doctrine, the toxic Texan sticking two fingers up at the world, this time the Scots."
And Deputy First Minister Wallace said: "Any threat to the environment from this plan would give rise to serious concerns for Scotland and in particular Orkney.
"As a constituency MSP, I am asking our own environment department and also the UK government about what environmental safeguards would be in place."
Source Sunday Mail
http://www.pentaclemagazine.org/php/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=704&newlang=eng
To get there, the leaking hulks will be towed through the narrow Pentland Firth between the mainland and Orkney and down Scotland's east coast.
Environmental campaigners yesterday condemned the plan.
Greenpeace's international toxic and demolition expert Frank Petersen said: "America is using Britain as a dumping ground. We have a huge concern it could be the start of a nightmare.
"If they were to sink off Iceland, Scotland or the Faroes, there would be a terrible environmental impact."
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, whose Orkney constituency is only miles from the proposed route, has called for an investigation into the threat.
Until last month, the ships were banned from leaving US waters.
Five years ago, former US president Bill Clinton ruled they could not be scrapped in Third World countries because their toxic loads risked the lives of the workers.
But his successor George Bush persuaded the US Environmental Protection Agency to lift the ban. Now the Ghost Fleet is coming to Britain.
The Sunday Mail can reveal officials from US Maritime Administration visited shipbreakers Able UK in February. Yesterday, Robyn Boerstling, spokeswoman for the Administration, said: "We are working with a proposer who has an agreement with the facility in Teesside."
She said if a deal could be sealed, the first 13 ships would be towed out of the James River before the hurricane season in late summer.
Some of the 94 former naval ships date from World War II.
The warships, tankers, bulk carriers and tank transporters were part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet - but lay for years unused and rusting on the river.
The hulks have already been blamed for causing oil spills in the river and 70 are so decrepit they have been officially condemned.
The ships are packed with toxic chemicals known as PCBs, which were banned in the 1970s.
Yesterday, a Greenpeace spokesman said: "This is the Bush environmental doctrine, the toxic Texan sticking two fingers up at the world, this time the Scots."
And Deputy First Minister Wallace said: "Any threat to the environment from this plan would give rise to serious concerns for Scotland and in particular Orkney.
"As a constituency MSP, I am asking our own environment department and also the UK government about what environmental safeguards would be in place."
Source Sunday Mail
http://www.pentaclemagazine.org/php/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=704&newlang=eng
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UPDATES ON ANTICHRIST'S PLOT TO DUMP POISON SHIPS ON POODLE CLIENT REGIME
29.06.2003 12:30
'Ghost ships' deal close Jun 26 2003
Matheus Sanchez, Evening Gazette
A Teesside firm looks set to sign the world's biggest recycling contract which will bring 200 jobs to the area, the Gazette can reveal.
Able UK could soon land a "phenomenal" deal to dismantle 13 US former naval ships from a massive obsolete fleet moored in the US, known as the Ghost Fleet.
The US Maritime Administration said the contract with the Billingham-based firm, their preferred option, could be signed by the end of the week.
And if successful it could mean an indefinite supply of work from the ever-growing pool of obsolete ships moored in US waters.
The 13 ships would be towed across the Atlantic and round the north coast of Scotland to be dismantled at Able UK's yard in Graythorpe, Hartlepool.
Although no figure has been confirmed, the US Government is known in the past to have paid more than £1m per ship to be scrapped.
Able UK Managing Director Peter Stephenson said today: "If we are successful, it's something to be proud about.
"To our knowledge it will be the largest recycling contract ever signed.
"It's all to do with the quality of the labour in the area and the expertise.
"That's the expertise of Teesside and that's what we're trying to promote.
"And it shows the expertise of the governing authorities in the area in the first place to get our facilities approved.
"It's a phenomenal opportunity for the area and it will mean 200 new permanent jobs.
"We haven't got the contract yet - we are in negotiations. We expect it, but we haven't got it yet."
The deal has sparked controversy in Scotland, with concerns over the safety of the ageing ships which are said to contain oil and chemicals.
But the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said today no dangerous ships would be allowed into British waters.
A spokesman said: "We would ensure that a complete risk assessment is done, with all the certification to the highest international standards before any tow was allowed within British waters."
And Mr Stephenson said the firm has been doing this type of work for ten years and can dispose of any dangerous substances safely.
He said clearance had already been received from the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the US authorities, who have inspected the site.
Robyn Boerstling, spokeswoman for the US Maritime Administration, said: "Everything has pretty much been negotiated but there's some details that need to be worked out.
"We have an immediate need to get rid of a large number of ships all at once and this facility has that capability.
"These are relatively old ships, but most of the hulls are in good condition.
"They have undergone a tow safety survey to ensure that they could make the tow across to the facility on Teesside," she said.
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2.
TOXIC `GHOST' SHIPS HEADING TO SCAPA FLOW
Contamination fears at harbour
Steve Mckenzie
Sunday Mail
June 29, 2003
A TOXIC fleet of US ships could be forced to use the famous Scapa Flow harbour as a safe haven.
Last week, the Sunday Mail revealed secret plans to tow 94 contaminated ships, dubbed the Ghost Fleet, round Scotland's coast to a wrecking yard on Teesside.
But as an inquiry was launched, fresh fears emerged over what will happen if any of the vessels get into difficulty in the Pentland Firth.
Captain Nigel Mills, director of Orkney Harbours, fears they could end up in Scapa Flow. He said: "Any contamination by these vessels in these waters could be disastrous."
The Irish government has called on Scotland and Iceland to join forces to stop the fleet from leaving America.
The obsolete ships - packed with toxic chemicals, asbestos and oil - could pose a huge environmental risk. The first 13 ships are due to leave Virginia this summer to cross the Atlantic.
The contract to recycle the ships was met with joy on Teeside because it could create up to 200 new jobs.
The US government will pay as much as £1million for each ship scrapped at Able UK's yard in Hartlepool.
But to get there, the leaking hulks will be towed through the Pentland Firth - notorious for severe storms and fast-flowing waters.
Any ships under tow could be sent to Scapa Flow by Secretary of State's Representative Robin Middleton if they get in trouble.
Captain Mills said: "Robin Middleton has the power to tell a port authority to accept a distressed vessel even though that port does not want that vessel.
"Contamination in these waters could be disastrous. At best it takes two years and, at worst, seven for water to be flushed out of Scapa Flow."
Orkney Islands Council is demanding more information from the UK Government and US Maritime Administration about the ships.
And Irish Prime Minister Berti Ahern's Fianna Fail party doesn't want the Ghost Fleet anywhere near its coast.
Deputy Government Chief Whip Billy Kellecher said: "If one of the vessels were to sink off our coast there could be an environmental disaster.
"If necessary, Ireland should join with Scotland and Iceland in attempting to halt the sailing of the so- called Ghost Fleet."
texas tea
ghost fleet
07.11.2003 02:24
if you want to help email me at
I will forward emails to our organisers and they will get in touch we need your support to keep them out of our town and our country (British Isles)
david berry
e-mail:
dav1dj71@hotmail.com