Press Releases - ABLE

WELCOME FOR COURT RULING ON SHIPS CONTRACT
03/10/03

News that an American court ruling has cleared the way for the start of the contract to recycle redundant merchant ships at its TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre) has been welcomed today (October 3rd) by Able UK.

The Company’s Managing Director Peter Stephenson said that, following the court ruling by a judge in Washington, work could now begin on moving the first four vessels from the James River in Virginia and they would be likely to arrive at the TERRC facility towards the end of this month.

Able UK has been awarded a contract by the United States Government’s Marine Administration for the recycling of 13 vessels which form part of the US National Defense Reserve Fleet—a large collection of ships which are available for recommissioning in the event of a national emergency. It is understood that a decision on movement of the other nine ships in the contract must await a further court hearing.

Said Mr Stephenson “Obviously we are very pleased that the judge has opened the way for the towing to commence on what is a very important contract, not only for Able UK, but also for Teesside with the added benefits that the refurbished dry dock will bring This decision will also help to ensure that redundant ships are disposed of in the most environmentally friendly and safest way possible.

“We where successful in being awarded the contract from MARAD because at TERRC we can offer probably the best facilities in the world for the safe and secure recycling of marine structures. It is work that we have been undertaking for many years and it is disappointing that the activist groups that have campaigned to try and stop the contract do not realise that we do offer the best available option—certainly much better than having vessels sunk at sea or scrapped on the beach of a developing country with no proper controls or protection for workers and the environment

“We have a strong record of working with environmental interests in ensuring the protection of the surrounding area and wildlife—and we will continue to observe all the agreements and best practices that we have developed.

“Our main concern now is to commence the tows and get the ships into the TERRC facility as soon as possible. We have all the necessary approvals in place from the US and UK and we should be able to start moving the ships this weekend with a passage time of about 25days.”

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