Able UK's contract with the US Navy to break up 13 obsolete warships has been highly controversial from the start.

At the beginning of November 2003 Environment Minister Elliott Morley demanded that the ships return to the US.

The contract also faced a legal challenge from Friends of the Earth and three people who live near Able UK - heard in December 2003. Here is the history of this controversial story.

News Archive

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05/10/05 Public to get say over ghost ship plan
Members of the public are being invited to comment on Able UK's latest application for its ghost ship scrap yard.

03/10/05 'We don't want the world's waste'
An environmental watchdog fears a town is in danger of becoming a dumping ground for the world's waste.

03/10/05 'We don't want the world's waste'
An environmental watchdog fears a town is in danger of becoming a dumping ground for the world's waste.

08/06/05 Decision on ghost ships is delayed
A DECISION holding up the start of the controversial dismantling of former US naval vessels in the North-East has again been delayed.

03/06/05 Able boss scotches Ghost Ship rumours
The boss of Able UK last night attacked reports that decommissioned US Navy vessels moored in the region could be towed north and scrapped in Scotland instead.

30/05/05 Anxious wait over legal bid to halt ghost ships arrival
Environmental groups were last night awaiting the outcome of a fresh legal challenge over the export of nine rusting Ghost Ships to the North-East.

20/05/05 Company behind Ghost Ships deal wins award
THE planned scrapping of a rusting "Ghost Ship" fleet took a fresh twist last night.

17/05/05 Fresh twist in bid to scrap 'Ghost Ships'
THE planned scrapping of a rusting "Ghost Ship" fleet took a fresh twist last night.

16/04/05 Ghost ship critics are 'self-indulgent'
A NORTH-East MP has dismissed criticisms of Able UK's plans to bring more "ghost ships" to the region as self-indulgence.

06/05/05 Residents vent their fury over plan for vessels
Local residents display anger at Able UK's plans to carry out ship dismantling at its Hartlepool site.

24/03/05 Sessions will outline 'ghost ship' moves
A council has teamed up with the Environment Agency to inform people about a shipbreaking firm's proposals to carry out the dismantling of the controversial "ghost ships" in the North-East.

19/03/05 Greens monitor shipyard proposals
AN environmental group has organised two meetings to discuss the possibility of a "super ship" breaking yard in the region.

05/03/05 US report will condemn 'ghost ships' agreement
A row over sending obsolete US navy support ships to be broken up in Britain, has taken a new twist.

04/03/05 Nine more 'ghost ships' get all-clear to leave US for N-E
ABLE UK last night took a giant step forward in its controversial bid to scrap a fleet of former US Navy "ghost ships".

26/01/05 Comment from The Northern Echo - We can handle the Ghost Ships
The dismantling of old ships may be an unpleasant enterprise. But it is a necessary one.

26/01/05 Backing for Ghost Ship yard
Hopes of setting up a base for dismantling so-called Ghost Ships in the North-East received a boost yesterday when the Government said it was keen on the idea.

19/01/05 Firm submits its plans for 'ghost ships' recycling
The company behind the recycling of the controversial ghost ships has submitted a planning application to its local authority in a bid to get work started on the scheme.

04/01/05 'We were right to send scrap ships to UK
US authorities have defended the decision to send four of its former navy vessels to the North-East.

27/12/04 Waiting goes on for ships decision
A COURT that is deciding whether nine former US Navy ships can be scrapped in the North-East is expected to announce its decision in the new year.

11/11/04 North-East likely to become base for dismantling 'ghost ships'
Plans to break-up obsolete US ships in the North-East could be scuppered by a landmark international ruling made at the weekend, environmentalists said last night.

11/11/04 Testing times as rusting US warships await their fate
Plans to break-up obsolete US ships in the North-East could be scuppered by a landmark international ruling made at the weekend, environmentalists said last night.

01/11/04 Ruling could be blow to ghost ship contract
Plans to break-up obsolete US ships in the North-East could be scuppered by a landmark international ruling made at the weekend, environmentalists said last night.

19/10/04 US ships hearing brought to a close
A US court hearing into whether more former US navy ships are allowed to be broken up in the North-East has ended.

16/10/04 Legal battle over starts in US
A Landmark court battle to decide the fate of nine rusting US navy ships due to be broken up in the North-East began yesterday.