Press Releases - ABLE

ABLE WELCOMES LAUNCH OF SHIP RECYCLING STRATEGY
30/03/06

The Chairman and Chief Executive of Able UK has welcomed the publication today (March 30th) of the Government’s draft strategy on ship recycling as ‘an important step forward which will hopefully lead to a wider recognition of both the need for the UK to develop its own facilities—and the very real benefits to the Teesside area in bringing the work here.’

Mr Peter Stephenson particularly welcomed the fact that the document published by the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs identified the potential of the North East and its long experience in shipbuilding and heavy industry…adding that there is scope to utilise these skills at the end of the life cycle, to recycle ships.

Said Mr Stephenson “After the many delaying frustrations we have faced in our efforts to develop our TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre) facility, I hope that the publication of the draft strategy and the launch of a three-month consultation period, marks a positive step forward and an indication that the Government is serious about wanting to encourage the development of a UK ship recycling industry able to dismantle vessels to the highest safety and environmental standards.

“As the Government itself points out, there is no doubt that there is an urgent—and growing—need for facilities…with figures showing that almost 400 EU flagged commercial ships will need to be recycled within the next five years, as well as a significant number of MOD vessels. What we now need to see is evidence of the Government and other agencies providing practical support and assistance to companies to meet that demand.

”We are pleased that the strategy and guidance documents have been released for consultation. We will be considering them in some detail and will make our comments to DEFRA in due course. However our views are well known in that the only way to deal with the issue of ship decommissioning is in a manner that provides the Best
Practicable Environmental Option.

”We had all the permissions in place when we secured the MARAD contract in July 2003 and brought the ships across but the judicial review of the Environment Agency and Hartlepool Borough Council in December 2003 meant that the existing permissions were revoked and hence a new planning application had to be made.

”The final round of public consultation will be undertaken shortly which should lead to a planning approval. This should be followed by the issuing of a Waste Management Licence so that we can start the decommissioning work.

”The TERRC facility will continue to be the world leading facility for recycling marine structures (including ships) operating to the Best Practicable Environmental Option and creating a large number of jobs for the local area.

“We have waited a long time…as have the local people who will gain employment at TERRC. I hope that today’s developments show that at last the tide is turning and that Teesside can and will lead the way in developing a responsible industry which will ensure that we bring an end to the situation where vessels from the UK and the rest of Europe are scrapped in appalling conditions in Third World countries.”

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