Ship recycling’s clean bill of health
AN inspection into proper handling of materials at Able UK’s Seaton Port facility has given the company the all-clear.
Able UK, which last month began dismantling the former flagship of the French navy the Clemenceau (now known as Q790), has been subject to monitoring at its Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC) for the last six months.
Consultants Scott Wilson Group, commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council, who carried out both arranged visits and spot checks found there was no risk of environmental pollution or damage caused by the handling of materials including asbestos at the site.
The council confirmed the reports relate to the first and second quarter and monitoring of the TERRC facility is set to continue.
Able UK chair and CEO, Peter Stephenson, said: “We have consistently argued that we have the expertise and the experience to undertake the successful recycling of marine structures, including ships, and that TERRC is a world class facility.
“I am pleased that the findings of the council’s consultants vindicate what we have been saying from the very outset.
“Our operations are, quite properly, subject to scrutiny by Government agencies including the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. They would not have approved our operations unless they had been satisfied that we were up to the job. With the arrival of the Clemenceau, now known as Q790, we have now clearly established our capability to meet the rapidly growing demand for ship recycling.
“This is an industry with enormous potential to bring investment and jobs to the North East in the years ahead.”
Councillor Rob Cook, chair of the council’s planning committee, said: “A stringent set of conditions has been imposed on operations at the TERRC facility, and we will ensure that these are adhered to.”
