ENVIRONMENT campaigners were last night anxiously waiting for a judge to rule on an emergency application to prevent the first ships in the US "ghost fleet" sailing to the North-East.

A court in Washington DC was considering a motion lodged by the campaigners, who argue that the 13-strong fleet is a potential environmental catastrophe.

It came as the Environment Agency approved the decision to bring the ships to the UK for scrapping, saying it was ''a better solution for the environment than disposing of vessels in under-developed countries''.

Last night, the judge at the Federal District Court for the district of Columbia was deciding whether to grant the temporary restraining order against the US Maritime Administration.

Such a ruling would confine the ships to a dock in James River, Virginia, until a full court hearing can take place.

The ships, destined for Hartlepool, are contaminated with deadly chemicals, including PCBs, asbestos and heavy diesel.

Campaigners fear one or more of the vessels could break up during the 4,000-mile crossing.

But Able UK, which won the contract to scrap the ships, has insisted they are safe to sail. The contract is worth £16m to the company and will create about 200 jobs.

The emergency restraining motion was lodged by US environment groups, the Basel Action Network and Siea Club.

Any delay imposed by the court could pose a significant problem because the vessels have to be moved by mid-October to avoid heavy seas.