SECRETARY OF STATES REPRESENTATIVE CLEARS WAY FOR TWO FURTHER `GHOST SHIPS' TOW

Following the receipt of a full survey report from the United States by an independent surveyor, the Secretary of State's Representative in Maritime Salvage and Intervention, Robin Middleton, (SOSREP) has cleared a further two vessels, the Compass Island and the Canopus for tow to the United Kingdom. The United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) and Able UK were informed late yesterday of his decision and these two further vessels are now to be brought to Teesside from their anchorage in the James River in Virginia. It is unlikely that this tow will commence before Sunday 12th October due to inclement weather Mr Middleton has again decided not to resist the passage of the tows into home waters after clear and detailed contingency and passage arrangements were earlier agreed between the Belgian, Irish and French authorities and Able UK, which was co-ordinated by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). As with the vessels, `Canisteo' and the 'Caloosahatchee' the MCA will closely monitor these additional tows throughout their journey and co-ordinate with the towing company upon their arrival in UK waters. At present the tug and tow of the first contingent are proceeding well, and at 06:00 on the 9th October the vessels had covered 256 nautical miles with no problems. Their time of arrival in Teeside is estimated to be on the 5th November. All conditions have been met for the second towage and SOSREP has indicated this to Able UK. After discussions with English Nature, the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) it was stated by all parties that they had no specific concerns regarding the proposed tow and passage through UK waters of the US vessels so long as the vessels were deemed seaworthy by the MCA.

All three bodies consulted were supplied with the various risk assessments undertaken on behalf of Able UK and have not indicated any additional concern about the vessels entering UK waters and proceeding to the vessel recycling facility. These ships will be the last to be dispatched this year. Able UK intends to bring up to 9 further vessels to the UK next year commencing in the summer of 2004. The ships are among the James River "Ghost Fleet," of about 100 large cargo and military-support ships that are anchored off Fort Eustis, Virginia.

For further details please call: Mark Clark, The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Duty Press Officer on: (02380) 841840 / (07711) 002678 (mobile) / 07693 345278 (pager) or during office hours (02380) 329401