[CPEO-MEF] 'Ghost Fleet' may be dumped

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Virginia
WASHINGTON TIMES
'Ghost Fleet' may be dumped
May 21, 2003

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — With a deadline looming, U.S. officials are
negotiating with foreign companies to dispose of environmentally
hazardous ships from the James River "Ghost Fleet."

The preliminary talks mark the first time that the government has
considered going overseas to scrap most of its aging, obsolete reserve
fleet since the practice was ended nearly a decade ago.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) stopped selling the rusting
vessels to overseas scrappers in 1994 to comply with environmental laws
banning the export of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in
various shipboard components. The move also occurred amid reports of
death and environmental damage suffered by developing nations such as
India that were ill-equipped to handle the dangerous scrapping work.

Now, however, with Congress willing to pay for ship disposal, MARAD has
received offers from foreign shipyards with high environmental
standards, including a British company that might be able to do the work
more cheaply than domestic scrappers, officials said.

This article can be viewed at:
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030520-102256-3956r.htm

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