Partner Article

Ghost ship decision this week

Plans to scrap so-called US “ghost ships” on Teesside will be considered at the end of October. Earlier this month, Hartlepool Council deferred its decision over Able UK’s proposals to upgrade its Graythorp yard for decommissioning vessels.

But the firm has since threatened to pursue costs from the council over two multi-million pound contracts which it says are being threatened by the delay. The local authority’s planning committee will now meet on 25 October.

Peter Stephenson, Able Chairman, said: “We welcome the fact that the Planning Committee is to meet again and we are not aware of any reason why our applications should not be approved. The Council have made their position very clear at the Inquiry that they have no objections to our proposals.

“Their decision is absolutely critical to our ability to bring to TERRC major construction contracts, which will provide work for around 1,500 people in the Hartlepool and Tees Valley area. We have made the Council aware at the highest levels that, unless the applications are approved by the end of this month and we can begin work on the upgrading of the facilities at the yard, those contracts will be lost.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .