THE company behind the so-called Ghost Ships controversy has won an award for its environmental standards from petrochemical company BP.
Able UK has won the Diamond Award, presented by BP to contractors judged to have contributed most in the areas of health, safety and environmental standards.
The Teesside company is facing opposition from residents and environmental groups about bringing a fleet of potentially hazardous former US naval ships to its Hartlepool site for scrapping.
The firm received the award at a conference in Swansea. Chairman and chief executive Peter Stephenson said it was "recognition by a world-class company that we meet the highest possible standards in tackling highly complex dismantling demolition and reclamation projects".
Environmental groups last night criticised the award. Iris Ryder, co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth in Hartlepool, said: "It is highly ironic that BP should present an award to Able UK for environmental leadership when it is known to have breached its landfill conditions at Seaton Meadow over 300 times in five years - and that was on spot checks alone."
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