[CPEO-MEF] Toxic fleet heading for UK to die is unfit for voyage

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Great Britain
THE GUARDIAN
Toxic fleet heading for UK to die is unfit for voyage
Government survey finds serious corrosion on US 'ghost' ships
John Vidal
Thursday September 25, 2003

A British government surveyor has found that the first two of 13
obsolete and highly polluted US navy "ghost" ships due to be scrapped in
Hartlepool are in a dangerous condition and need extensive work before
they can be towed to Britain, the Guardian has learned.

A report obtained from the maritime and coastguard agency by Friends of
the Earth reveals that the 50-year-old supply ships Canisteo and
Caloosahatchie need welding work to rudders and propellers and have
"serious corrosion" of the rivets and seals.

The surveyor, who visited the two ships with officials from the US
department of transport and Able UK, the Teesside company which has
signed a £16m contract to scrap 13 of them, has recommended the ships
not be allowed to leave until further internal and external inspections
have been ccompleted.

The report conflicts with US government surveys and claims by Able UK
that the 13 ships had been passed fit to travel by the US, Lloyd's
underwriters and others.

Both ships were due to leave Virginia several weeks ago.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/waste/story/0,12188,1049049,00.html

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