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New ghost ship heads to Teesside | New ghost ship heads to Teesside |
(20 minutes later) | |
A former French aircraft carrier - rejected by India and Egypt as being too toxic to be broken up - is due to arrive at a shipyard in Teesside. | A former French aircraft carrier - rejected by India and Egypt as being too toxic to be broken up - is due to arrive at a shipyard in Teesside. |
The Clemenceau is to be dismantled and recycled at Graythorp. | The Clemenceau is to be dismantled and recycled at Graythorp. |
Campaigners say asbestos on board will damage the environment and the health of workers, but the Environment Agency says it has rigorous controls in place. | Campaigners say asbestos on board will damage the environment and the health of workers, but the Environment Agency says it has rigorous controls in place. |
Last year, a local firm won a long legal battle to scrap four former US naval vessels, dubbed "ghost ships". | Last year, a local firm won a long legal battle to scrap four former US naval vessels, dubbed "ghost ships". |
Hartlepool-based Able UK says the project to dismantle the 32,700-tonne Clemenceau is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. | Hartlepool-based Able UK says the project to dismantle the 32,700-tonne Clemenceau is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. |
Environmental concerns | Environmental concerns |
Work on the Clemenceau will take place alongside existing contracts to scrap four former US naval vessels which arrived on Teesside in 2004. | Work on the Clemenceau will take place alongside existing contracts to scrap four former US naval vessels which arrived on Teesside in 2004. |
Able overcame environmental concerns over its recycling plans last year. | Able overcame environmental concerns over its recycling plans last year. |
We've now got a ticking, toxic time bomb and we're going to live in a nightmare haze of toxicity for the rest of our lives Jean Kennedy Friends of Hartlepool Controversial end to the ClemHistory of ghost ships | We've now got a ticking, toxic time bomb and we're going to live in a nightmare haze of toxicity for the rest of our lives Jean Kennedy Friends of Hartlepool Controversial end to the ClemHistory of ghost ships |
The company is due to begin recycling work on the 780ft-long (238 metre) Clemenceau after Easter, in a £3m project which will create an additional 200 jobs. | The company is due to begin recycling work on the 780ft-long (238 metre) Clemenceau after Easter, in a £3m project which will create an additional 200 jobs. |
The vessel contains 700 tonnes of asbestos and was recalled to France from India in 2006 amid concerns over its toxic elements. | The vessel contains 700 tonnes of asbestos and was recalled to France from India in 2006 amid concerns over its toxic elements. |
Jean Kennedy, leader of the Friends of Hartlepool, a local community group which led the fight against the dumping said: "Here was a ship laden with the worst possible toxins and they want to bring it to this country to get rid of it. | Jean Kennedy, leader of the Friends of Hartlepool, a local community group which led the fight against the dumping said: "Here was a ship laden with the worst possible toxins and they want to bring it to this country to get rid of it. |
"We've now got a ticking, toxic time bomb and we're going to live in a nightmare haze of toxicity for the rest of our lives. We live in a town where we're breathing it every day of our lives." | "We've now got a ticking, toxic time bomb and we're going to live in a nightmare haze of toxicity for the rest of our lives. We live in a town where we're breathing it every day of our lives." |
Peter Stephenson, the chairman of Able UK, dismissed the objections of Ms Kennedy and others. | |
Sanctioned | |
He told the BBC: "The protestors had all the opportunities over the last five years. There was a public inquiry. It's been looked at by all the proper authorities. It's been all sanctioned. | |
"What we're going to do is what we were going to do in the first place - same methods we've used for years. So I don't see any problem with that." | |
The Environment Agency says it will ensure the ship is recycled in a safe and environmentally sound manner. | The Environment Agency says it will ensure the ship is recycled in a safe and environmentally sound manner. |
The Clemenceau, once the pride of the French navy, has spent the past few years being moved around as officials tried to find a final resting place for the vessel. | The Clemenceau, once the pride of the French navy, has spent the past few years being moved around as officials tried to find a final resting place for the vessel. |
Launched in 1957, it sailed more than a million nautical miles before being decommissioned in 1997. | Launched in 1957, it sailed more than a million nautical miles before being decommissioned in 1997. |