CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the news that nine of the fleet of US ghost ships will not be recycled at a North-East shipyard.

Able UK won a controversial contract to dismantle up to 13 vessels at its Hartlepool shipyard.

But delays caused by environmental concerns prevented the others leaving the James River, in Virginia, in the US, for the Graythorp facility, and terms of the contract with the US Government have been re-negotiated.

It means that nine US Reserve Fleet ships originally destined for the UK will no longer be broken up on Teesside.

The company said it wanted to dismantle and recycle the four ships moored on the River Tees - the Caloosahatchee, Canisteo, Compass Island and Canopus, which arrived in Hartlepool, in November 2003.

Able is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against Hartlepool Borough Council's refusal of planning permission to upgrade the shipyard to allow it to decommission all the ships at the Graythorp yard.

The appeal is due to be considered in September and is expected to take about five weeks.

Neil Marley, of West View, Hartlepool, who lives close to the shipyard, said: "It's good news that the other nine ships are not coming, but I would like to see the four that are already here sent back.

"The problem is, if they are given permission to break up these four, it sets a precedent that could open the floodgates for hundreds of ships to be sent to be scrapped here from all round the world. The best solution would be to set up an international fund to enable countries to break up their own ships - employing their own workers under safe conditions."

Fiona Hall, Liberal Democrat MEP for the North-East, said: "It is good news that further ships will not be arriving in Hartlepool, but for local people, the continued presence of the four ghost ships is cause for uncertainty and concern pending the appeal outcome."

Peter Stephenson, chairman of Able UK, said: "We are pleased that we have been able to agree with the United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration that our contract for the recycling of the four vessels continues.

"It is disappointing that, after all the efforts of so many people, the opportunity to bring the additional work, which would have been generated through the recycling of the other nine vessels, has been lost due to the delay."

Mr Stephenson said Able UK had been dealt another blow and had lost the opportunity to recycle a redundant British Navy vessel, HMS Intrepid, because of the delays in winning planning permission.

He said the four-year stand-off and subsequent loss of the nine ships had cost the company millions of pounds, but it was determined to press ahead with its vision of creating a world class ship recycling centre at the Graythorp site.

"The planning appeal is expected to cost about £1.5m, which is going to be a big burden on the taxpayers of Hartlepool should the inspector find in our favour," he said.

A spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council said: "There is an appeal pending, and as such, it would be inappropriate for the council to comment at this stage."