THE ghost ships seem to have crossed the Atlantic without poisoning the ocean - but they do seem to have dredged up a few red herrings on route.

One such fishy tale is the suggestion from a member of Friends of the Earth that the hulls of the ships are in such a deteriorated shape a single hammer blow would break through. Common sense will tell you the buffeting these ships received crossing the high seas would be far stronger than any human hammer blow.

Then there is the suggestion that carcinogenic polychlorinated byphonels (PCBs) could leak into the soil after disposal. In fact the PCBs are only present on the ships in tiny amounts and not in liquid form, so they cannot leak anywhere.

Before anyone gets the wrong impression, I must make it clear that I am an admirer of the Friends of the Earth. I see them as the nation's conscience on environmental matters.

However, when it comes to the ghost ships, I firmly believe they have got it wrong and it surprises me that they haven't taken up any of the invitations they have received to tour the Able UK site and discuss their concerns with the management. It's right that the public hears all sides of the argument but I do feel those involved have a responsibility to deal in facts rather than scaremongering.

A surprising number of other commentators also seem to have spoken out without seeking both sides of the story. I'm sure everyone agrees that these ships must be disposed of in a manner that is safe. Simply dumping them on a foreign beach, as has happened in the past, seems a gross dereliction of responsibility.

Decommissioning should be safe in terms of the local environment, the local population and the workers carrying out the job. In Britain we have a vast army of inspectors who are far better qualified to decide on safety issues than myself or, I suspect, those opposed to the ships coming to Teesside.

If these watchdogs conclude it is safe for this work to be carried out then I'm inclined to believe them. Similarly, the question of whether Able UK has all the relevant permissions in place to carry out the work is not something I can comment upon - that's a matter for the High Court to decide. But as a citizen of Teesside and an elected Mayor with the interests of the whole area at heart, I do feel able to comment on the actual principle of this work being undertaken in my backyard.

Teesside has a worldwide reputation for managing some of the most dangerous industries known to man, from steel smelting to nuclear power stations, chemical works to waste diposal incinerators. Able UK carries on that tradition and has already successfully de-commissioned oil rigs from its dock.

Contracts worth £10m do not come along everyday and the 200 jobs that will be created will provide a major boost to Teesside's economy.

If the judges and scientists conclude the proposed decommissioning is safe and legal, then the work should go ahead and Teesside should celebrate its position as a world leader in what will become an increasingly vital service.

Published: 14/11/2003