Press Releases - ABLE

ABLE WELCOMES RULING ON MARAD CONTRACT
03/03/05

‘An important step forward’ was how the Chairman and Chief Executive of Able UK described the ruling by a federal judge in America that nine more vessels from the US Reserve Fleet can be sent for recycling to the company’s TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre) facility at Seaton Port Graythorp.

Mr Peter Stephenson was speaking after District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer dismissed a case brought by environmental groups against the American Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Said Mr Stephenson “The news from the United States is obviously very welcome. It is a logical and common sense decision which we had hoped for and expected. I think it is important to underline that, whilst it is an important development, there are other procedures to be completed before we are in a position to begin work on the six vessels already berthed at TERRC—four from our contract with MARAD and two British owned ships—or receive any further ships, whether from the US, the UK or Europe.

“We submitted a planning application to Hartlepool Council, setting out proposals for the continued development and expansion of TERRC, in January and the Council is currently consulting over the application which includes the construction of three new quays, a cofferdam and dry dock gates, and proposals for activities including shipbuilding, ship repair and recycling, as well as facilities for the manufacture of wind turbine equipment.

“If, as we hope, the application is approved by the Council and we are granted a waste management licence from the Environment Agency, we will then be in a position to consider our programme of work, both for the recycling of the vessels currently in the facility and receiving further ships.

“As far as our contract with MARAD is concerned, as a result of the of the delays caused by us having apply for planning permission and a waste management licence again, the original nine vessels identified for transfer to TERRC have been disposed of elsewhere. Following the judge’s ruling we will now agree with MARAD on nine other vessels within the Reserve Fleet which can complete our contract.

“Once the vessels have been identified, we will follow the same procedure used on the original four ships, inspecting them and carrying out any work needed to make them suitable for tow. Once inspected and approved for towing, a decision on when they will be moved to our facility will be dependent on the time of the year—the optimum ‘weather window’ for bringing ships across the Atlantic is between March and September—and the availability of suitable tugs”

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