New flotilla of 'ghost ships' could cross Atlantic to UK

Sam Jones
Friday March 4, 2005
The Guardian

Britain may soon see a new flotilla of "ghost ships" sailing across the Atlantic after a US court ruled that more of the toxic vessels can be sent to the UK for disposal.

A federal judge has decided that nine ships from the James River reserve fleet could be sent to Britain to be broken up.

The decision is likely to provoke fury among environmentalists. Four of the ex-US navy vessels have already been towed across the Atlantic and are berthed in Hartlepool, Teesside, waiting to be dismantled.

However, Able UK, the firm that has a multi-million pound contract with the US Maritime Administration to scrap the rusting ships, which contain huge amounts of asbestos and toxic chemicals, has been told that it cannot begin work until planning and environmental regulations are met.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1430292,00.html

Most of the aesbestos will be found in the engine and firerooms. I am sure there are lots of things you don't want being just dumped that have high levels of toxicity.

My guess is there are 70 or more ships to be disposed of in this way.
Why can't it be done here in the states ? Could it be environmental laws?

Or were those Osama's "ships of death"? No, those were the "scuba divers from hell". I get all confused.

Don

They can always drag them offshore of some poor country who's infrastructure is completely corrupted and take them apart there.