Press Releases - ABLE

ABLE SUBMITS PLANS FOR TERRC DEVELOPMENT
18/01/05

Able UK has confirmed that it has submitted what Chairman and Chief Executive Peter Stephenson described as ‘a very substantial and significant’ planning application to Hartlepool Council for the continued development and expansion of its TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre) facility at Seaton Port Graythorp.

The application, which involves the construction of three new quays, a cofferdam and a dry dock gate, includes proposals for activities including shipbuilding, ship repair and recycling, together with facilities for the manufacture of wind turbine towers and blades, as well as the assembly of turbine generator units.

A detailed Environmental Impact Statement, prepared by international independent consultants and submitted with the planning application, confirms that the proposed developments would not have any significant impact on the local ecology.

Said Peter Stephenson “We have undertaken a massive amount of work on developing our proposals since the legal hearings which effectively halted our operations at TERRC over a year ago. It has taken over 12 months to complete the application and the environmental impact statement which shows just how carefully and comprehensively we have approached the task.

“Whilst a great deal of attention has surrounded our wish to develop the facility as a world-class centre for ship recycling, it is important to stress that this is just one aspect of the opportunities which will be available if we are able to carry out the proposals in this planning application.

“It will, for example, provide the chance for ship and offshore construction and repair work in what will be one of the biggest dry dock facilities in Europe, as well creating a major opportunity for the Tees Valley to become a key centre in the rapidly expanding area of wind power technology. Clearly there is the potential for creating very significant numbers of new jobs as the project develops.

“We are hopeful that the application will be considered positively by the Borough Council and that we can begin construction and operational activities early this spring.”

The Graythorp facility was originally developed as a shipbuilding yard, with almost 500 vessels being built there between 1913 and 1963. Laing Offshore acquired the yard in 1969 and developed the site for the construction of large offshore structures and decommissioning work.

Able UK purchased the facility in 1996 and have imported and recycled marine structures for many leading companies. In 2003 it was awarded a contract by the American Government’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the remediation and recycling of 13 redundant vessels from the US Reserve Fleet. The first four vessels from the contract have been at TERRC since late 2003.

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