Thirteen floating wrecks - wasted, dilapidated and possibly leaking all manner of toxic substances - may be seen off the coast of Scotland and North East England later in the year as they head to Teesside in a controversial plan to scrap a number of US merchant and navy ships that are threatening environmental disaster in South Virginia. While environmental groups are saying it’s a ‘secret plan’ on behalf of America to foist some of its nastiest environmental hazards on the UK, Teesside’s shipyard workers will no doubt be glad of the contract in a declining North East industry.

More information:

• The James River Ghost Fleet

• Rusting and toxic? Haul it to the UK

• Plans to scrap ‘ghost fleet’ ships in Britain draw protests, complaint

• Cost Catastrophe Fear Over US ‘Ghost Fleet’