Press Releases - ABLE

‘CHECK YOUR FACTS’ CALL TO MEP ON SHIPS CLAIMS
14/10/03

Claims by a UK Member of the European Parliament on the recycling of redundant American merchant vessels by Able UK have been described as ‘outrageously misleading’ by the company’s Managing Director.

Peter Stephenson said the attempts by Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for the South East of England, to stop the work coming to Able’s facility at Graythorp were ‘based on a statements which have no basis in fact but which are blatantly designed to grab headlines and cause alarm.’

Explained Mr Stephenson “The comments from Caroline Lucas, included in a News Release issued by the Green MEPs, are incorrect on almost every significant point. For example:

*She claims that the vessels we are bringing to our facility for recycling ‘could lead to an environmental disaster in European water.’

FACT: There is less chance of these ships creating damage to the environment than the majority of other ships around the English coast.

*She claims the ships are ‘in various states of disrepair and contamination—and together contain almost half a million tonnes of oil…’

FACT: The ships are in good seaworthy condition and half a million tonnes of oil is totally incorrect…on the four ships arriving this year there is only around 113 tonnes of oil per vessel.

*She claims the contract ‘requires an ‘oil spill management company’ to be retained throughout the ships transport and special equipment installed at Teesside to deal with any oil spills..’

FACT: Standard practice is for an oil spill plan in all ports , including Norfolk Virginia and the Tees where these vessels will be covered by the same arrangements applying for all other structures.

*She claims we do not have ‘dry dock’ facilities.

FACT: This facility has been operating a dry dock since the early 1970s and Able is currently refurbishing the dry dock.

*She claims that the ships ‘have been able to leave the US before the UK has been able to ensure compliance with EU legislation…’

FACT: All the relevant authorities in the UK have confirmed that Able and its facility comply with all required legislation to receive the ships and carry out the work.

*She claims that there is a requirement that any ship recovery work is carried out in an ‘authorised centre’ in line with environmentally sound management’ and this regulation could breached if the ships were dismantled in ‘wet dock’ conditions.

FACT: We comply with all the requirements to which she refers and our permissions allow us to carry out the work in wet or dry conditions.

*She claims that that we ‘lack appropriate facilities’ for the handling of wastes on the vessels.

FACT: We have many years of experience of dealing with wastes of this kind and we have a fully licensed special wastes site adjacent to our recycling facility.

*She claims EU officials ‘will examine the government’s failure to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment.’

FACT: A full Environmental Assessment and an assessment in accordance with the Habitats Regulation where undertaken before we received our planning permission.

*She attempts to compare these vessels to Erica and Prestige tanker disasters.

FACT: It is ridiculous to compare these vessels to fully loaded tankers. The oil on these vessels is less than 0.1per cent of the oil carried on the Erica or Prestige.

*She claims that the United States ‘has the capacity and expertise’ to undertake the work.

FACT: The US does not have the facilities.

“So on the basis of a string of statements which are outrageously misleading an MEP seeks to jump on the publicity bandwagon. Yet what do we hear from Caroline Lucas and her Green colleagues about what is happening on their own doorstep?—where, according to Greenpeace website, over 120 redundant ships from member states in the EU will have left to end their days beached in some developing country and ripped apart with no thought for the damage to the environment or public health.

“In fact the EU Environment Commissioner estimates that worldwide as many as between six and seven thousand ships are disposed of in this way every year. It is, she says, a matter of ‘serious concern’ so why does she and Caroline Lucas seem less interested in tackling that issue than trying to halt the proper and controlled recycling of 13 ships in one of the best facilities in the world?

FACT: Hartlepool has constructed over 1,100 ships, the majority with asbestos in them.”

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